Late Work
I have found that by setting due dates and creating effective expectations in terms of submission deadlines, student are more eager to participate. Taking the time to provide a penalty for late assignments and still accepting the work allows students to understand that their work is quality but will have penalties.
Pamela,
You make a good practice by assuming that the students are never clear about their assignment deadlines. Students, and most of the world for that matter love to procrastinate, sometimes even putting that off.
On the first day of my classes I go over the deadline section of my syllabus, and I state that no late work will be excepted without medical reasons. I repeat this multiple times so that it sinks in. At first when I started this practice I was afraid of too many assignments going uncompleted but I was surprised by the reversal. I have instead had situations where students have arranged for a friend to pick up their assignment and bring it in for them.
Part of me worries that I have scared them, but on the flips side I can say I at least installed a sense of urgency in them.
Hi Dennis,
I let my students know for every choice there is a consequence, good or bad.
Patricia
I fully agree with the comparison to deadlines in all aspects of life. Additionally, there are consequences for late or missed deadlines in thoses areas as well. It could cost you a job, or a promotion; clearly more devastating than the difference between an "A" or a "B".
School should be treated as real world in the job industry it would not be excepted nor would it reflect on ones character as a professional.
I tell my students that late work is only accepted under extenuating circumstances. I outline in my syllabus what these circumstances include, in an effort to limit excuses. It seemed to work well last quarter! :)
I also have a late work policy. I first started by doing it on a case by case basis depending on their situation. But I began to feel like I was playing the judge. I did not feel right judging whose situation was more "important." I therefore went to a policy of 10% per day late. This goes for any reason. Therefore it takes away from me being the judge, and keeps everyone on the same field.
I have the same rules for everyone. If students know the rules, they follow them.
I have found that accepting late work creates the idea due dates are flexible. I now begin class with a general rule, due dates exist in all aspects of life, so to prepare you for the real world, no late assignments will be accepted! Of cours this rule is not set in stone, but they dont know that. If I do agree to take the late work, the student must have a very good excuse ie..in hospital. If they share this information with any other student they will be in jeopardy of lossing the grade.
Hi Teresa,
It is great replication of the real world. Lateness is very unfavorable in the real world.
Patricia
These are good ideas. If instituted then there should be no late assignments accepted. That replicates the real world.
I have learned to never assume that a student is clear about assignment deadlines. It has been helpful for both my students and myself to make constant reminders such as recommending that students refer back to their course calendars regularly, writing assignment with due date on the board and mentioning the assignment and when it is due during my lectures. These reminders have also encouraged students to come to me for help on the assignments before it is too late. Although there are still going to be a few stragglers who still can't manage to get an assignment in on time, I have noticed a major reduction in late assignments since implementing these extra steps.
