Late assignments
Students will always have an excuse regarding late assignments. I use the 'Point deduction' system as well and it is included in the syllabus so that everyone is clear about the rules. And when students are late, I remind them of the rule but also encourage them to still submit them and not give up.
Hello,
I also have the point deduction system listed clearly in my syllabus but find that the loss of points is oftentimes not a deterrent for many students in not meeting deadlines.
I know that students can end up feeling too far behind if they miss a few deadlines and may give up on the class for fear that even if they do get their late work submitted, it will be worth very few points. For this reason I do put a "cap" on the number of points they can lose on an assignment. The maximum I will deduct is 30%. This way a student who is extremely late can still earn a passing score and not feel as if it is "all for not" and give up on the course.
Thanks,
Beth A. Stewart
I set a deadline on late work as well as deduct points. They must have there work turned into me by Thursday of each week.
I do not necessarily agree that it is essential to have a late policy for the adult learner. It seem contrary to the andragological principle that adults are responsible for their own actions. If an adult learner is not familiar with the principle and consequences of being late at this point in his life, how will the punitive elements of a late policy change this behavior?
Hello Evelyn,
It has made some people realize the importance of deadlines even at this late point in life.
Patricia
Hi Michaeal,
Sounds fair to me.
Patricia
Committing to a classroom assignment is no different that committing to a work project, or other responsibility in life. Everyone should learn effective time management to fulfill their promises. What better environment to do this than the learning environment.
You could lose your job, or a great opportunity, if you are late otherwise!
Hi Anthony,
Great response! A committment should be lived up to. Lateness is not tolerated in the workplace.
Patricia
Hello Patricia -
What evidence/research do you have to support that statement? I would love to see the data.
Evelyn
This may be true but before I support a stringent late policy for the adult learner, I need to see statistical evidence that the policy is effective. At what point do we treat adults as adults? For our children, school is their "job." For adults, school is not their job - but a choice as well as an additional responsibility. It is naive to believe that adult students behave the same way in our classes as they do at work. Our students are our clients but are treated as high school kids. If an adult can fight in our wars, I'm sure they can figure out that assignments need to be turned in on time. The natural consequence is failing the class.
I feel there needs to be consistency in the course. I will assess a 5% deduction for days 1-3 and then 10% for 4-7, but will not accept assignments more than 7 days late. I try to encourage an open line of communication with the students as on occasion, "life issues" arise. They can then make the determination as to when they are going to submit and it becomes a decision made by them.
Janette, in addition, I ask (stated in my classs policy and reviewed as part of the syllabus) that students notify me to request an extension for late work by telling me what specific date they will submit their work.
This puts the responsibility back to the student to know his/her own deadline to commit to.
Hi Anthony,
Share a time with me when you did not grant an extension.
Patricia
Hi Janette,
Things do come up. You are a fair and considerate instructor.
Patricia
Hi Evelyn,
I've seen where adults students behaved on the job the same way the behaved at school. I've had students with very poor attendance while attending school and some of those same students were terminated from their jobs for having poor attendance. I've seen this behavior with a bad attitude as well.
Patricia
Hi Evelyn,
I don't. This is based strictly on observation. I am sure you have learned a lot based solely on observing.
Patricia
I have seen this as well. 2 Things:
Educational policies generally shoot from the hip. In medicine (I am a RN as well) - everything is researched and tested before it is implemented. That is why I asked for the research. Personal experience is interesting but it is just that. My understanding of the adult learner is that a strict late policy does not support adult learning but is a carry-over from the pedagogical model.
Secondly, at a job, these individuals are being paid. At college, they are paying us. This is a significant difference. It is also a significant difference from the secondary education where school is the job of a child and where the concept of "being late" is taught. I have found that a stringent late policy increases the adult student's stress level and decreases their quality of work. It also increases the time I spend micro-managing. Since I no longer deduct points for being late, I have noticed that assignments have improved, excuses have diminished, and, interestingly,a greater number of assignments are turned in on time.
Hi Evelyn,
If this works well for you continue with it. I've found that being stringent with late assignments teaches students how to meet deadlines in school and in the work place, therefore I have a late policy in place.
Patricia
Hi Beth,
This policy is better than getting a zero. I am sure your students appreciate this.
Patricia
Anthony-
You could not have said that any better. If you practice good habits these become routine and second nature same goes if you practice bad habits. The learning environment instills the qualities of responsibility, reliability, punctuality, and accountability. These qualities with practice can then be applied to your job and I believe are essential to success.
