Electronic submission of homework
In my courses, when homework is due, we go over it in class on the due date as a review of material and grade it together with careful scrutiny by me. The students tell me this is helpful. However, the students that didn't turn in the assignment then have the opportunity to write down answers and turn it in late with point deduction penalties. Many students then say I'll e-mail it to you because you let so-n-so do it. I have allowed this once or twice due to extenuating circumstances. However, then they push the deadline to 5 p.m., then it becomes midnight, then it becomes after their work shift, regardless of the line I draw in the sand. I remind them that the homework was due at 8:00 a.m. in class. Then I have to gain access to a printer and print and grade their paper separately. Sometimes they put it back on me, like "Don't you remember?...I e-mailed that to you." It has become really inefficient for me and I am considering no electronic submission of assignments at all! Professional schools (medical, dental, law) often use electronic submission of assignments. The nice thing about e-mail attachments is the time stamp. What do you think about e-submission of assignments, late or not?
Hi Geoffrey,
I agree with you 100%! We are certainly in a technological advanced world, and we all better come up to speed, otherwise we are going to be left behind. So sad, when someone cannot even use a simple email program.
Patricia Scales
I too have no issues with electronic submissions of homework and essays. I generally will give my students a choice of doing either without any penalty. I also think that in the next ten years or so, it will be expected that students turn in their work electronically, and while paper will never become obsolete, it will be greatly reduced. This can already be seen in the business world, as such things as purchase orders are handled primarily through electronic means. Because of this, I think that it is actually a positive action when a student submits work electronically. I am still amazed at times at students who are uncomfortable and ignorant using such common programs as Word and e-mail (i.e. they do not know how to insert an attachment in an email). For the most part, this will be expected in the workplace.
e-submissions are very appropriate under certain circumstances. I taught two computer classes Pattern Design and illustrator and photoshop last term. I students submitted them on time and they also had a copy that they could re-submit if it didn't arrive (some stuff goes automatically into junk mail and I always have to check) and I could save them in a folder and evaluate them and actually have a copy to see the growth in their work. I adhere to the deadline on the syllabus. Late work isn't acepted unless they had a documented excuse.
I have no problem with electronic submissions. The most valid point being the timestamp for delivery.
I would suggest that, if you accept electronic submissions, you tell the student beforehand (and probably it should also be in writing, signed by the student and kept by you) the exact time the project has to be submitted or else it will not be graded. Print out the file with the included time stamp (you might need to do a screen capture of the actual email the file is attached to) attach the project and the timestamp to the signed form the student filled out and show exactly why that file was either graded as is or given a '0', whichever the case may be.
