The Distracted Student and Assignment Deadlines
Let me start with a little background. I teach Computers and Networking at a technology school. Our curriculum is all electronic based and is structured in a day by day format with lectures, labs and assignments spelled out. There is submittal, due and late dates assigned to lab and assignments. These show up in a calendar on the students laptops. The dates are also verbally announced when they are becoming due. Any assignment handed in after the due date has 10 points deducted up to 30points (3days) after which a 0 is given. This rule is clearly addressed at the beginning of the course and during the course. Yet students continually miss assignments. The student is given time to complete labs during class but do not use this time. The students are given a laptop that is part of their student fees and belongs to them. They have their electronic books on the laptop and can access the LMS system for their daily work . The problem arises when, as an instructor you do not have any control over the programs and content on students laptop. This makes it very hard to monitor them without physically being over their shoulder. I believe this distraction is contributing to the students late or not submitted assignments. The Student needs internet access to complete the assignments so turning off the internet is not an option. Installing any kind of monitoring software is also not an option due to the laptop belonging to the student. I believe this is a double edge sword that is cutting into the student’s grade.
James, I feel your frustration. I teach science courses related to Surgical Technology. Many students ask to use their laptops to take notes. I find that this is not always what they are doing. The additional programs on their computers are certainly a distraction to deadline completion!
