Hi Tracy,
What a great way to encourage students to keep their eyes on the prize. I like the idea of looking at the list to determine if they are on target with their goals.
Patricia
Hi Janet,
I hear you loud and clear. I like how you put the responsibility back on the student. Students must realize they get out of a course what they put into it.
Patricia
Hi Danesh,
You are right, make things known up front as to what is expected. Students need and want to know what the expectations are. I like the idea of Q & A the very first day.
Patricia
Hi Kathleen,
When you take this type of thoroughness to go over the syllabus, nothing is missed. Students appreciate clear/concise communication.
Patricia
Hi Allan,
It is good to let your students know up front exactly what is expected of them. Students need to have clear course requirements.
Patricia
I hand out a Syllabus and a list of course requirements in which I explain attendance policies, grading, expected class behavior and other course-specific requirements. I also invite students to feel free to talk to me at any time about any concerns they may have.
I go over the syllabi page by page with them and give examples of the homework and assignments.
Hi Melissa,
I can tell you make things clear for your students. Students need to know exactly what is expected of them.
Patricia
Thank you for that. I tend to repeat myself several times to the class. There is always a student not paying attention in class. The student would ask a question I explained earlier. I would then have another classmate explain it to the student. This helps me know that the students are listening and understand the assignments. We now use engrade for grades. This program have been so helpful. I can post assignments and return mass emails.
Since my courses are distance learning, I have an extra challenge making sure my students understand requirements. I'll post a detailed syllabus and solicit discussion/feedback on blackboard as well as follow up with phone calls as needed.
My class always knows exaclty what the expectations are and what the course requirements are when I teach. This is because the expectations, assignments, and rubrics are all part of the syllabus.
Everything is bullet points, and boxed in when it is important. All of the due dates, and grading schemes are also specified.
On top of that everything is written on the board and vocalized at the beging and end of each class.
Get them to understand right from the beginning what is expected from them during the program with illustrations and examples if possible of what they will be covering during the course to peak their interest and allowing them to picture what they will be getting into.
I also reserve time during their first day for Q & A regarding the program.
I deliver all the documents on the student portal to each student before they even enter my class. we go over & they ask questions about all 6 wk long requirements on day 1 & then individually they can meet with me if they have a grey area. my dry erase board prompts them with reminders & the daily agenda; outside of that I have little sympathy for all the thousands of excuses they use about not having homework or knowing what we were going to do & they lose points which if they continue to be irresponsible, lowers they grade point average & final grade; they did that to themselves & I make it clear that they are responsible for their own destiny from day one. most comply, enjoy & excel as they do in every other aspect of their daily lives.
In my classroom I prepare a very detailed syllabi that clearly outlines all of my course expectations. Throughout my courses I continue to reinforce that syllabi and my expectations verbally and visually.
I pass out and go over every detail of the syllabus on day one. The syllabus outlines all the course requirements. I also have a course schedule attached to the syllabus, which outlines what we will be doing each day in class and which assignments are due on which days.
I use the syllabus and course objectives. We discuss every requirement before each Chapter and I ask for feedback before, during, and after every discussion that we have. I teach a Career Development Course and it really helps me to stay on task and it reminds the students to remember to make their goals attainable and measureable.
On our first day of class, I had them list some long and short term goals, and on our last day of class, I will have them take a look to see if they were able to achieve them.
To make the course requirements clear for the students I do a two different things. I verbally cover the syllabus and discuss each piece in detail. I also give them a calendar with due dates for all scheduled assignments/quizzes/exams so they have no surprises. This way even if they miss a class they know exactly what I expect from them the day they return.
Hi Jody,
How thorough! You really make things clear to your students. I have found the clearer the requirements, the smoother the class runs.
Patricia
I put my expectations in the syllabus. I give a ouline of the classes, when exams are, when assignments are given and due. How grading will be done. When to expect grades. I give verbal reminders of when assignments are due. At the end of each class I do a quick review of what is on schedule for the next class.
I agree. A log sheet would be handy but I would be more inclined to have the students make one as their first assignment. I think they might be more invested in it if they make it themselves.
