Expectations
It is very important to set expectations for the students the minute you sit down with them and interview about going to school, just as important is instructors providing expectations.
I agree. There is a lot less stress if they know from the start what I expect from them.
Sad but true - signatures don't ensure anything. The only way to assure expectations are understood is to continuously revisit them and reinforce them.
Growing Expectations
Hi, Charles and Daniel. I agree that establishing and abiding by expectations on day one is important. However, I have found that my list of published expectations grows each term. Every term I find another tidbit of information that I need to include in my published expectations so that students can know ahead of time what is expected in the class. Of course, as we all know, the longer the communication the less likely it is to be read. Yet I still have to make sure everything that sets my class apart from other classes is well-established on day one of the course—even if students do not read the expectations. I post the expectations and I email out a copy to every student. I have not used the signature approach yet with my expectations, but I have used the signature approach with other official documents such as the course syllabus and the signatures are no help in ensuring anything.
The first day of class your expectations of the students should be provided and explained in full detail. Having students sign a form of reciept and acknowledgement is a good way to confirm the "deal".
