We have four-hour classes twice a week per course. We move at a fast pace and the workload is heavy. Without assignment follow-up students who miss assignments go unchecked and fall behind quickly. We follow-up for the previous class assignment everyday in an attempt to keep every one up to speed and to evaluate student progress.
I follow up on reading assignments by beginning the class each day with a quiz on the chapter that was to be read for the day. This encourages the students to read the chapter and be familiar with the basics before I teach the chapter. I know that this sounds backwards, but I only hit the high points or key words on the quizzes.
It serves a second purpose by also encouraging the students to be on time at the beginning of the class to take the quiz.
This is an important step in making sure the student has an understanding of the assignment and is clear with the answers he/she chose. This also shows accountability in performing the work given for both instructor and student.
Hi Theresa,
I concur! Adult students want to know the value of everything that they do. They want to know that the assignments are beneficial.
Patricia Scales
Hi Debra,
Students do not like it when instructors do not follow up on their assignments. This is a good way to damage your reputation.
Patricia Scales
It is very important to follow up on reading assignment with students for at least two reasons. 1) It shows students you are serious about deadlines... even assigned reading chapters are assignments with deadlines. and 2) It is a way to judge the students' comprehension of the assigned material and adjust your lecture accordingly.
This allows the teacher or instructor to gauge the students learning progress of the material and to see whether or not they need to adjust the progress of the course material whether to progress or revert to previous material. It is a valuable tool and technique for the instrutor to do this procedure.
Adult students need to know that their work has value. By paying attention, grading, and using the work in future class activities I show them the value of doing their assignments (and doing them on time). I rarely give an assignment that does not give the foundation for future use in class. Therefore incomplete assignments mean the student will be unable to complete another step.
I give out homework assignments the first day of the course with the material to be done and the due dates. If they miss the deadline they know they will lose points and in some cases it could affect their chance to pass the course. The students who struggle with homework assignments are usually the same ones who do not put the effort into studying and preparing for each class and exam.
I believe that the students would feel cheated. They have done hard work and it is as if they did not get credit for it
I agree, if you do not collect assignments, then it would be the instructor's fault if future work is not done
Hi Marvin,
We should want to know if our students are grasping the material by grading their assignments. We should lead by example and do our due diligence by following up on assignments.
Patricia Scales
Following up lets the students know that you are taking an active part in their learning experence, as well as taking away any excuses that they might have for not turning in assignment on time.
I follow up with assignment (mostly reading) with quizzes and graded essays. This keeps the students on task and helps them with class preparation and discussions.
Hi Emily,
You are right! This is true with a lot of courses. Learning tends to be a building block. When you have to know this before doing this, and also what you learned previously must be utilized in this concept as well.
Patricia Scales
It is absolutely essential to follow up with students on their assignments, especially in my courses. I teach composition, and if I didn't go over previous papers with them, they wouldn't fully understand what needs improvement and how to apply it for the next assignment.
Every lesson is a building block leading to a completed project. You must continuously review and check for understanding of facts and concepts before moving forward. If you fail to do this consistently, your finished project may not match your blueprint. OOps!
It is very important to follow up on these assignmetns for it is a way to show the student you care about their education and that you mean business in the classroom. In my area there are many homes in which education is not a priority and do not get any postive reinforcement to their edcuation. So they come to school and this is where they should receive the positive followup so they know you care about their future.
Following up with student assignments is very important as an instructor. I feel, as an instructor, that my students will respect me as the classroom authority and know that I am serious about the work we are doing when I followup on assignments. I think not following up on assigments can lead to the impression that the instructor doesn't care if the students are learning.
It is a priority! I have been in a classroom with instructors that would assign work but never follow-up on the work. Students learned that when she would assign something, they didn't have to do it, because she would never check.
You MUST use your own ability to bring the student to the learning, not the learning to the student. If you don't choose to change your own instructional methods, take assignments seriously, and treat all students the same (grading, etc.) the student who doesn't care or doesn't want to care won't.
