I think reminders are very necessary. Students are busy with work and family responsibilities. Too many reminders the student can choose to disregard, however, too few and a student may miss an important assignment or be unprepared.
I really like this idea. Posting the due dates on my class calendar online as well as giving them the printed calendar on the first day of class is a great way to make requirements clear. It not only serves as a reminder but it also covers me when a student insists he/she was not aware of the deadline.
Hi Marilyn,
You have many avenues to make sure your students are clear about what is expected of them. I am sure your students appreciate the clarity.
Patricia
Hi Donna,
You certainly make things clear for your students. I like the different methods you utilize to ensure your students know what's going on. I also like to write the weekly due dates on the board at the beginning of the week the assignments are due.
Patricia
by having a detail syllabus which is discussed in detail on the first day of class. I also remind students the day before a quiz or exam will be given even though it is on their assignment schedule. I also write requirements on the board
In addition to the syllabus for my English courses, I give out a schedule with assignments for reading, tests, and writing assignments. (I always tell the students that the dates are tentative and then stick with it the best that I
can.) I print out the grading scale and give out
any rubrics that I intend to use for writing
assignments. I discuss the requirements on the
first night and again when the assignments are
given out.
Hi Wendy,
I really like it how you are continuously trying to improve as in instructor in order to make your students the best that they can possibly be.
Patricia
Hi Ronald,
You do a fantastic job of making things clear. Your students should not have any gray areas.
Patricia
I have a document that is specific to my class or me as an instructor persay called "course Guidelines" that I tweek each quarter after I find out that something hasn't worked or that another instructor has found better ways of doing things. for instance, I like the idea of taking 20% each day that a project is late. I also do not accept ANY late homework. I only allow one make-up exam the entire quarter and it must be made up with in 5 days of the original exam. Other instructors allow one make-up within 5 days of the original and still take off 10% each day they wait to take it...which is fair since they are getting more time to study the material.
Hi Kurt,
I like to give my students things in writing so that they can have something to refer to. Students have a lot going on, and it is good if they have documentation to help jog their memory.
Patricia
I clearly explain course requirements on the first day and also have them stated on the course syllabus. I also give expectations and requirements at the beginning of each class period. In other words, what should I and each student accomplish by the end of the class period.
I make sure to go over expectations for assignments on the first day as I cover the material in the syllabus. I also amke sure not to change the assignments without a thourough explanation and an accompanying ammended syllabus. I think the key is to always give students something in writing, along with thouroughly explaining what you expect of them.
Hi Alan,
I am a firm believer that students should be held to the highest standards. I love a rigorous test that a student is fully prepared for and does well. When students do well on a test, it lets me know my teaching was effective.
Patricia
It is important for the students to understand the "rules and regulations" of the course in that every teacher bringsa a different set of rules to the classroom.
I design the tests to push the student's understanding. The questions run from the very basic to an advanced understanding level. The tests are not impossible to have a perfect score but they are rare. If a student routinely scores perfect, then the tests are not pushing the envelope of their knowledge.
Hi Alan,
Why do you feel tests are not designed to allow perfect scores?
Patricia
Hi Kelly,
You go above and beyond! You even email the information. I am sure your students appreciate you wanting them to succeed.
Patricia
I explain my philosophy of testing and that tests are learning experiences for both the student and myself. I return corrected exams so that the students can use the exams to study from for the next exam. I also explain that my tests are not designed to allow perfect scores.
Personally, I use a combination of the many great suggestions above. I use a course outline with dates (that I maintain each term) and send an email. I post weekly reminder announcements to ensure understanding of what is due. This has proven successful.
KJ
Hi Joseph,
How nice of you. I give my students the due dates of various assignments, projects, tests, etc., and it is there responsibility to notate it.
Patricia
