If assignments are not followed up on, students will not be motivated to complete them. They need to know why the assignment was relavent and how it applies to the lesson on hand. By following up on all assignments it increases the instructor awareness of student comprehension.
Not following up would show lack of organization on my part as an instructor. This would upset the students, by perhaps making them feel I am wasting their time. It would lead to confusion on their part. They would ask themselves why do it if I'm not going to talk about it or grade it. I have to tie in that assignment or reading to an objective for the class - show its relevance. If the assignment has been collected, I grade and post the grade within 24 hours. This provides students and myself feedback on how they did. It shows me as an instructor what I perhaps need to review or reteach during the next class. Students want to know if they are on track. I don't and they don't want to wait until the test to realize they don't understand something.
Following up not only allows you the opportunity to show the students that you are serious about what you assign, but also let you know that they are learning the material. If students aren't doint the assigned work they are not gaining the full knowledge of the course. It also shows them what it is gointg to be like in their career field. Every job has a deadline at some point or another and if they are already used to having someone follow up on assigments they will be less likely to blow them off.
My home assignments generally satisfy one of three objectives: as preparation for the next lesson, preparation for a summative assessment, or reinforcement of the previous lesson.
Focusing on the reinforcement objective, if a teacher doesn't take time to check students' understanding of the assignment, how can the teacher know to move on to other learning objectives? Students will quickly perceive assignments as optional or a waste of time (busy work) if the teacher doesn't take time to review and provide feedback: feedback in the form of discussion/instruction and also a grade.
When homework is due I have the student trade with a partner and we grade the homework in class. One point for getting an incorrect answer; two points for not answering the question and I have the grader write in the correct answer. This allows the students to have the correct answer to the homework to study from for tests and they also get the correct answer as a group right away. Most of the students will make an effort to answer all the questions in the homework because they realize that they will get 1 pt for trying.
If you do not follow-up with students assignments, they will not think they are important to outcomes for the class. All assignments are worth grading if they are worth assigning. If a student turns in an assignment and receives it back with a "check mark" for completetion but no follow-up, they will not be as motivated to provide a quality assignment.
Student accountability! They realize that you are not assigning busy work. Percieved busy work devalues the class in students' eyes.
For troubled students falling behind, I have had success with creating a individualized time table for them to get their late or incomplete work turned in. I meet with them throughout their timetable to make sure they understand the assignments and am personally interested in their success. When they see I am willing to take time to give them the tools they need, these problem students generally rise to the occasion.
I think holding adults accountable for their actions, when done with care n concern relays a message of "this is of importance and you are important also".
Following up on assignments conveys the message that the task is important, worth the time completing it, and essential to the students' learning. If the instructor does not value it enough to follow up and give feedback, the student will get the message that it is really not important whether or not they complete it.
I always try to give back feedback by the next day from workbook assignments. Everything that is in the assignments shows up on their tests in one form or another. They still ask what is on the test and how many questions and in what form. They have the answers of the assignments in the back of their workbooks. I wonder how this is helping them to learn.
Hi Linda,
You have to let students know that every assignment is crucial to their grade by following up with the assignment. No assignment should be given just for the sake of giving an assignment.
Patricia
I think it is very important to follow up w/ assignments and readings to make sure the student doesn't loose direction. It is also important that they see and understand the critical impact not submitting an assignment can have on their overall grade. Once they see that on paper they usually get the message if they are serious about being successful in the course.
I have found from past experience that if I don’t give quick checks or practice tests and check to see that they do them, my students will pick the easier faster way. I still have to continually remind them that they have to read and do the assignments if they want to understand the content of the course.
Following up keeps eveyone accountable. It also helps the instructor know that the students are understanding the information they are presenting.
You must make the students accountable for their work and reading assignments.Otherwise most students will not complete assignements.
gives them the information they need
It is very important for you as an instructor to follow up on an assignment. This is a way to know if you are effective in your teaching. This is a way to know if the students are understanding the material being covered. Follow up needs to be immediate with immediate feedback to the students.
Because following up on assignments lets students know that you are serious and that the assignment is important. If you do not follow up then some students will not complete the assignments at all.
I have found that following up with assignments gets my students in the important habit of responding promptly to deadlines. This is a skill that will help them succeed in their future careers.
It helps reinforce to that student that we as the instructors are making sure that the students are keeping up on their work. It shows them that we care and it reinforces structure in the class.
