Get Your Students Hired
I do not like the take the hard line approach but sometimes I think that it is best to just say "no assignment, no points". Unless something terrible has happened liek a death in the family.
In high school students get the hand held. In college, a place they are paying for, I feel that if we allow late assignments even at a less point percetage, we are not really helping them.
Just my thoughts.
I agree Carolyn. The reason we assign the work is so that students learn from the experience of doing it. I think giving penalties for late teaches the lessons about the world of work while still allowing the student to receive some credit for completing the work.
Hi Tina,
You've made some good points. Why do you feel you have to cater to your students to keep them in school?
Patricia
Isaac,
I agree as well. It seems like when you take excuses the same student's mother will die at least 3 times a semester! Yet, I know if my mother died in the middle of a semester how upset and off track I would be.
But this also goes back to the hand holding issue. Even when something as drastic as a death happens, life goes on. Whether it is work or a job-- the living have to go back to doing what they have always done.
I have a hard time accepting late assignments, yet I still do. I also complain about it afterwards.....which really isn't a good practice at all.
Sometimes you are just so happy to have received the work at all! This is especially true in a day and age where you are expected to cater to the students to keep them in school.
Thanks,
Tina
Hi William,
Being habitually late is not tolerated in the work place. We need to teach our students the importance of meeting deadlines. I have a very strict policy on late work.
Patricia
I worked for years in the newspaper industry and it may have 'tainted' my views. However, in any industry consistently late work will result in dismissal.
If an educational institution purports to prepare students for the real world, late assignments must be rejected except for a few situations...just like the 'real world'
Hi Steven
We have to prepare our student for the workplace, and you're right there are stringent deadlines in the vehicle industry.
Patricia
In our industry vehicles have to be done on time and done corectly. If not you will not be working there long. the students need to understand that there are no second chances. A penalty for late or incomplete work might be OK in the begining of the class but by the middle they need to understand this is the way the workplace will be. Make sure it is spelled out at the begining of the course and there should be little or no push back.
Hi Marcos,
I like the term coach. We have to be our students coach as well. For every choice there is a consequence.
One should start by coaching the student and discuss all the requirements and the reasons for them as well as the negative effects of not turning in all class assignment on time.
Hi Kofi,
Timeliness is extremely important in the workplace. You are on point with your response.
Patricia
I have a no late homework policy but I do struggle with thinking about retention. I think a no late homework policy will help retention because students want to be ready for the real world and they want a challenge. In the paralegal field deadlines are a big part of a job and they are absolute. If a paralegal can't meet them they will likely lose their job, even if they have a lot of family issues and hardships. An employer needs someone who can get the job done on time and right and if they can't do it they will find someone else. Although it breaks my heart to tell a student they can't turn in something late, I know it is good preparation. Further, if they are a good student and only miss one or two assignments their grade won't be drastically affected.
Hi Ron,
I see your point! I am sure your students can appreciate this. You are holding them accountable.
Patricia
Hi Norman,
There is a flip side to everything. What you have indicated makes perfect sense.
Patricia
I like your response and completely agree with it. Teaching people to be on time all the time is not reasonable. You teach more when you teach them how to handle such situations in a professional way. You also give them the opportunity to learn by allowing them to do the assignments. If they can't turn them in for credit, everyone loses.
Almost all of my late asignments are due to absenteeism. I rarely have the situation where a student just doesn't do the work.
With regard to absentee late assignment, I have a rule that emphasizes a professional attitude when missing a meeting. Missing a meeting without some communication is unprofessional.
The right to hand in the assignment is predicated on the student contacting me by end of class, either in person, by phone mail or email about their absence. No professional communication means no right to make up the work.
Hi Hanna,
Of course, great points made. Students appreciate instructors like you. You are certainly very understanding.
Patricia
Hi Crystal,
Thank you for lending support and guidance to students. You are a true educator. Some students do not know how to juggle it all, and they really need assitance.
Patricia
I agree. Most of my students work full time and have families besides going to school. I give them penalties for late assignments but do accept them. I feel that the goal is to learn and I'd rather have them learn from an assignment by handing it in late than not do the assignment.
I believe adult learners should be held accountable for their management / lack of management in regards to course work / assignments being that they have made the decision to enroll / attend college. After all they are adults ... correct? However, despite the fact that their age categorizes them as an adult ... some individuals simply do not have the preparedness / readiness / maturity at that particular time in their life to effectively multitask between family, jobs and school. They recognize the necessity to "improve" and/or "advance" in their socioeconomic status, however, certain individuals, if not provided the guidance & support in their initial efforts (beginning courses) they will more than likely fall short of their goals. Perhaps, I am taking a "soft" approach due to a recent experience with a student and not having assignments completed. The individual has definite passion/intellect for her career choice, however, it is only her second quarter in college - our class meets once a week for four hours - and her difficulty lies in managing the amount of content covered during the four hour period and the duration of time between weekly classes, and external demands of her time (family and job). We have discussed her difficulties, and together have developed a focus/management plan to facilitate her adventure down the road to learner success. As stated in my opening line - I believe adult learners should be held accountable for their management / lack of management in regards to course work / assignments being that they have made the decision to enroll / attend college, however, as SMEs and IDEs - educators, I believe we have a responsibility to offer guidance & support ... and allow the student to make the decision of accepting / declining the offer ... which if accepted provides the student with potential empowerment and motivation to facilitate their drive down the road of learner success! If you, as the instructor, cannot be the source of guidance & support remember all the resources that a college campus offers students and make a referral.