When you give an assignment to the class most of the students put a lot of time and energy into the assignment. If you don't collect it not only do the students quickly discover they can get away with not doing the work but they also resent you making them do work for "no reason" and may stop participating.
It is important to follow up on assignments and readings to assist with student and instructor accountability.
It is important that the students know that each and every assignment is important. Also, following up with them will addres any questions or concerns the student may have regarding the instruction of the assignment. When you follow up with questions that reference reading material the students were assigned, they know that hey have to make sure that they have answers to the questions.
The students should know that every assignment is important, no matter how big or small. The students should also be able to inquire about things that are not clear regarding the assignment as well.
I have always included in my syllabus a clear statement about late assignments: a 5% reduction in points for the first week late and a 10% reduction at the end of the second week. After that there will be no points awarded. I have made exceptions to this when considering individual extenuating circumstances. My students have generally responded well to assignments and due dates. I have also made it clear to them that if I require them to be punctual about assignments, I commit to be punctual in grading and returning them. I try hard to have assignments graded and returned within a week of their due date. I think that students appreciate this and it helps keep up the mutual responsibility with regards to timeliness of student assignments.
By following up on student assignments you can check for understanding before moving forward. Also carefully grading and returning the assignment shows the students that you are tracking their individual progress. Collecting an assignment just for the sake of collecting it is not good. Eventually students will stop working hard, or working all together.
Before each lecture, I pass out chapter notes as guides to help the students with the chapters covered in the lecture. The quizzes and tests that the students take give me an overview of what they need clarification on. I refer to the notes in elaborating and explaining further to make sure they understand the areas in questions.
Hi Samuel,
Students have to know that assignments are taken seriously by the instructor as well, therefore we expect them to do the assignments, and we follow up accordingly.
Patricia Scales
It is important to follow up on assignments and readings that you have given students. This is a form of accountability. This will help to motivate students to prepare for class activities and quizzes.
It is very important to follow up on assihnments because the student will see you as a serious instructor and that you really know what you are doing. It also help unprepared students to be focused and prepared or else they will feel there are no consequnces if they submit thier assignments on time.
Professionalism requires instructors to be consistent with thwie style and management. If an assignments/readings are given to students, then mangaing those tasks at hand are required.
Keeping the students engaged in coursework and holding them accountable is part of our responsiblities.
I agree. Having a better sense of the importance of assignments also encourages students to put more effort into the work they turn in. This results in the assignments having a greater impact on their mastery of the subject as well.
To encourage the student to be prepared when coming in to class and to let them know that I am as accountable as they are.
Hi James,
Students need us to do our part by following up on assignments so that they fully understand each assignment is meaningful.
Patricia Scales
You must always follow up on assignments to set and maintain the precedent that they are important. If there is no follow up on assignments, then students will not believe it is important to do those assignments and thus will not do them in the future. Students must not only know why they are asked to do each assignment, but that it is important to complete it and that they will be held accountable.
Without follow up students will not put alot of effort into their projects. In my experience students dont feel like the instructor has given them something of substance unless the deadline and follow up is adhered to. Following up on assignments can also ADD relevance to the assignment after it has been done.
Aside from being one of the course requirements, it shows the students that the effort they put in completing their homeworks are counted and graded.
It is important to grade and review course work in a timeley manner so students know how they are doing and if they are understanding the info or if they need additional help.
Hi Kim,
I concur! We need to be the example that we want our students to become. Every assignment should be important, therefore follow-up with the assignment.
Patricia Scales
It is important to follow-up on assignments and readings given to students for several reasons. Students need to see follow through and consistency from the instructor to validate the work they had to put into the readings and assignments. Lack of instuctor follow through sets a bad example. Follow-up reinforces importance of learning, brings clarity and understanding to concepts studied, and promotes good study discipline.
