I am a new instructor and found out very quickly.. if i did not follow up on assignments that my students would take advantage of my.. as they saw it.. "lack of interest in their work and acheivements of class work."
students appreciate knowing their current grade. Providing immediate feedback on assignments allows students to keep track of their own progres and provides a means for them to assume more responsibility for their education.
If I don't follow up with student assignmemts, they will not get done or they will be turned in very late. It shows responsibility from my part to the class that I take my job and their education very seriously.
Hi Crystal,
Wow, this is definitely a disconnect. The best person to follow up would be the DOE. I have never heard of this practice. I am taken aback by this.
Patricia
Hi Stacy,
I can tell you have learned a lot from this course. You cited some very informative quotes, and I am sure you will utilize some or all of this information in future classes.
Patricia
Hi Deborah,
Absolutely! Our students need meaningful work that will enhance the learning objectives, thus making the student more valuable as a prospective employee.
Patricia
It is important that all work assigned has a meaningful purpose. No busy-work should be assigned. Each assignment must guide the student to understanding the concepts they need to know. Following up emphasizes the importance of the assignments and let's students know it is important for them.
My students are given a class calendar on the first day of the course. The calendar lists what will be disscussed in lecture daily as well as daily assignments. If a test is taken late and the student was not out ill or some emergency, they will receive a 20% deduction automatically. There are no make-up quizzes. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. There is a date given on the course syllabus for all assignments to be turned in. Late assignments will have a percentage deducted, unless there is a really valid excuse. Most students will turnin their work on time or be present for a test with this system.
“Following up” on assignments and readings are really about making students accountable for their own learning (Scales, 2011). However, it is more than that. It is about measuring student performance and “enforcing standards” (MaxKnowledge, 2011, p. 2). This continues to give relevance to the course.
The course refers to six behavioral types that can occur from students: “unprepared, ready-to-quit, apple-polishing, inattentive, blaming-others and center-stage students” (MaxKnowledge, 2011). By being aware of such behaviors can allow instructors to be prepared for what can occur in a classroom and how to intercede disruptions to student success.
Why is measurability important? The importance is to provide stakeholders with concrete evidence of the value of such programming (Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick, 2006, pp. 16-17). Value is justified by way of “credibility,” meeting organizational goals, improving student skills and knowledge as well as validating the expenses (Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick, 2006, pp. 16-17). The most important stakeholder in education is the student.
References
Kirkpatrick D.L. and Kirkpatrick J. D. (2006). Evaluating training programs: the four levels (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
MaxKnowledge. (2011). MaxKnowledge: ED104 Class management strategies. Center for Excellence in Education. Washington D.C.: Imagine America Foundation. Retrieved May 18, 2011 from website: http://www.iaf-cee.org/elc/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=6714
MaxKnowledge. (2011). MaxKnowledge: ED104 Class management strategies. Apple polishing students. Center for Excellence in Education. Washington D.C.: Imagine America Foundation. Retrieved May 18, 2011 from website: http://www.iaf-cee.org/elc/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=6714
Scales, P. (2011). MaxKnowledge: ED104 Class management strategies. Discussion forum 2: Why is it important for you to follow up on assignments and readings you have given students? Center for Excellence in Education. Washington D.C.: Imagine America Foundation. Retrieved May 18, 2011 from website: http://www.iaf-cee.org/elc/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=6714
Hi Kira,
Students want to know that we really care about their success, and we should.
Patricia
Immediate feedback is a must. I agree. Students who put the effort and time to complete an assignment should be rewarded by prompt feedback. It signals, a form of communication, to the student that he or she is on the right track. Immediate feedback signals to the student who has not completed the assignment, accountability. Now you have a zero.
It teaches them responsibility and accountability for their own work. Also, it lets them know that you are engaged in their learing as well. You're not there just to earn your paycheck, but to invest in the students and part of that is teaching them to be self-sufficient.
Hi Larry,
Immediate feedback is a must. Students need to know as soon as possible as to how they are progressing.
Patricia
It is important to follow up on students’ assignment because doing so adds credibility for the instructor and support to the students who completed the assignment. I think it is important for the instructor to actually collect the assignment and provide written feedback on corrections, as well as improvements. Communication is key in any instructor / student relationship; the more immediate, the better.
One of our challenges is the fact that lab assignments are often graded by lab supervisors instead of instructors and also, most assignments overlap into other classes. In fact, our instructors rarely have anything to do with grading any assignments with the exception of Final Practical Assessments. I feel this manifests itself in a disconnect from instructor to student. Many of our instructors are contracted/adjunct and do not keep office hours. They are contracted to teach courses typically in a classroom setting only. Any advise? Should we as a school, assign an administrative person for following up? Ex: Director of Education, Student Services, Lab Supervisors?
Yes, I agree I like to give quick feedback too. I teach typing/keyboarding and thus I teach emails. My students enjoy emails---I am going to strive to do it more.
Our program is competency based meaning that each competency must be passed with an 85% or better by the 10th week of an 11 week course. To achieve this, deadlines must be followed and due dates are put in place to help the students to keep up with their workflow and not get overwhelmed by falling behind.
Hi Pamela,
I like to give my students very quick feedback on assignments so that they can know how they have done. Following up on assignments helps the instructor and student to know if concepts are being grasped.
Patricia
Hi Pamela,
That's right! Our students need to feel that they really matter because they really do. Our students need positive role models to look up to as well.
Patricia
On a lot of my keyboarding assignments, it is a pass/fail. You are right, it makes them more accountable because the textbook does not let go on if they do not get better with each assignment
