Late assignments
Students will always have an excuse regarding late assignments. I use the 'Point deduction' system as well and it is included in the syllabus so that everyone is clear about the rules. And when students are late, I remind them of the rule but also encourage them to still submit them and not give up.
Evelyn,
I can see both sides of the issue here. You are right that giving point deductions is an extrinsic motivation instead of an intrinsic motivation. However, to suggest that students should only rely on intrinsic motivation in our classrooms is not realistic. We all love what we do, but we also go to work and expect to be paid on a certain day for that work. Assignments are the real world equivalent. If they don't turn them in on time, should they be paid? Yes the end of the term is the ultimate deadline. But would you wait until 3 months after you find out a patient has cancer to administer treatment? We have the job to prepare our students for what employers expect of them. Therefore, I think implementing late assignment penalties is far less drastic than what may be a result of a real life situation where tardiness could be a life changing or even life or death situation.
As a result I do implement a point deduction strategy in my class. I let the students know upfront and remind them.
I also find that having smaller deadlines for larger projects allows students to miss one deadline but not lose the entire points for the whole project. This will prevent them from giving up.
Hi Evelyn,
Great discourse here. Interesting to see how different policies affect different career learning areas. If I didn't deduct points my course would quickly fall into chaos. I teach a 'start block' course (first course in field of study). We observe and critique homework at beginning of each class period each week. Most students take great pride in having work ready for presentation at deadline. It provides them with sense of accomplishment.
If I didn't enforce a late policy with deductions the learning pace and structure would collapse and I would have a mountain of projects to address the final day.
For me a deduction 'cap' is sensible and still encouraging.
That is a great idea Beth. I too find students will give up if their work is more than a couple of days late. This can have a dramatic effect on final grades.
I think a 'cap' is a fine solution especially with first time students who may be getting familiar with time management between home life, job and school. A good retention tactic for 1st time students as well, less failures perhaps!
I also have a point deduction system listed in my syllabus but I work with the student when they have those live events and encourage them to turn in their assignments. I make it clear when going over the syllabus that if you are having a problem with the assignment you need to communicate with me and I will try to work with these students. I find if you work with the students that communicate with you they will catch up and complete the course. Unfortunately there are those students who will not even try to catch up and seem to be there expecting a passing grade just for showing up to class. For these students I reiterate in my class how important it is to keep up with you assignments and communicate with me if you are experiencing difficulty.
Dorrell,
Yeah! There are 2 of us! In reality, each class has a strict deadline in place - the end of the term. The expectations of this deadline are in a closer alignment to those of "real" world. Thanks for your comment!
Evelyn
Sounds good to me!!!! I also find it helpful to encourage the students to turn their assignments in before the due dates, to avoid extra points taken off of their assignments.
Patricia -
My concern is not that we differ in approach but that you are reinforcing behaviors that are not documented by research. Unfortunately, many who teach adults have no formal training in education techniques. The purpose of your program is to provide them with such. I'm not sure what the process was for writing the curriculum but, to me, is seems as though the curriculum developers did a "pick and choose." I would give this class a failing grade because the practices were not adequately supported by the literature. Using a medical example, did you get a H1N1 vaccine? How do you make your decision? I would hope that you did some research which, in turn, influenced your decision. You cannot promote excellence in education by supporting outdated thinking.
Evelyn
This is extrinsic motivation. According to the reseach on adult learners, adults are/should be intrinsically motivated. If instructors continue to reinforce extrinsic motivation, the adult learner will not mature into a life long learner nor appreciate the value of education in and of itself.
I totally agree with your method. I always encourage students to submit late work. I rather have something to grade than to give the students a zero for not completing an assignment.
Hello,
I like the method of point deduction for late assignments, but to a certain extent.
I will only allow it in special circumstances, otherwise they will get a zero for un-excused late HW.
I make sure this is very clear in the syllabus, and explain that if they have a treatment due in the hospital and they are late to give the patient their medication, what would the outcome be?
Regards,
Rody
There should be a penalty for late assignments.
I sets a standard for the class if late assignments are allowed. The students that work hard will think that their effort to be on time is wasted.
Paticia,
I'd deny an extension if the student is "habitually" late, or gives a reason such as being on a "planned vacation". My thinking is if you have a 'planned' activity, you should have planned on meeting the deadline before you are gone.
Thanks,
I agree with committing to the classroom assignment. It is very true to work world & we have worked with people who do not have there work done on time. I use that exact example in my classroom. Students have a class schedule for a full month & they know what is due & when. Not meeting the due date is a zero. Simple as that.
Hello Bee Koon,
You're right! Excuses are inevitable. Students will always try to use them to their benefit.
Patricia
Anthony-
You could not have said that any better. If you practice good habits these become routine and second nature same goes if you practice bad habits. The learning environment instills the qualities of responsibility, reliability, punctuality, and accountability. These qualities with practice can then be applied to your job and I believe are essential to success.
Hi Beth,
This policy is better than getting a zero. I am sure your students appreciate this.
Patricia
Hi Evelyn,
If this works well for you continue with it. I've found that being stringent with late assignments teaches students how to meet deadlines in school and in the work place, therefore I have a late policy in place.
Patricia
I have seen this as well. 2 Things:
Educational policies generally shoot from the hip. In medicine (I am a RN as well) - everything is researched and tested before it is implemented. That is why I asked for the research. Personal experience is interesting but it is just that. My understanding of the adult learner is that a strict late policy does not support adult learning but is a carry-over from the pedagogical model.
Secondly, at a job, these individuals are being paid. At college, they are paying us. This is a significant difference. It is also a significant difference from the secondary education where school is the job of a child and where the concept of "being late" is taught. I have found that a stringent late policy increases the adult student's stress level and decreases their quality of work. It also increases the time I spend micro-managing. Since I no longer deduct points for being late, I have noticed that assignments have improved, excuses have diminished, and, interestingly,a greater number of assignments are turned in on time.
Hi Evelyn,
I don't. This is based strictly on observation. I am sure you have learned a lot based solely on observing.
Patricia
