Self Analysis
All--
How can instructors ensure that students thoughtfully and honestly complete a self-analysis inventory?
Michael--
It seems to me that you can't know if the student's response is forthright or not. One would hope that the student could see that honest, reflective responses to any self-inverntory would be in her own best interest. My concern would be that she might perceive the inventory as some sort of "pass/fail" exam, the results of which will determine whether she can enroll as an online student and move forward in whatever fashion she has been promised or is expecting.
Take a question like, "Do you procrastinate?", for example. My feeling is that most students, especially non-traditional, adult students--a substantial online demographic--could sense that an affirative answer to this question is not a good thing to admit about themselves and that such a response might hinder their ability to enroll and move ahead in a timely fashion. Honestly, how many people would list procrastination as a postive character trait?
If a student feels that the admission of such a character trait might (at the least) land him in a "developmental" course of some sort, it is easy to see why a skewed response might be likely.
It is up to us as those administering such an inventory to make clear not only the importance of honest responses, but also the actual consequences of such responses. Anything that smacks of more work and/or slower progress is bound to elicit questionable feedback, don't you think?
--Kelly
Kelly,
You may want to provide examples of what certain characteristics are. Students why not know what they mean or what they are.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michael,
I don't think you can. i think you have to take the students work on "face value" YOU can only do so much. . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Students need to know why we are asking to complete a self analysis inventory. We need to provide how it will assist us in making them sucessful in their course
ANNE,
You make a great point! Students do need to understand WHY they are taking it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Kelly,
One would think they are being forthwith. Why would they be attending higher education if not. I would hope my students are being honest at all times. If not that is really on them...we cannot control what they lie or do not lie about. I find most of them are honest and they come right out and state they are procrastinators..
Theresa
Theresa,
I know. . . frustrating as it is. I also find that much of their problems is their true lack of knowledge about anything not related to them!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
the only way it will be honest is if they feel comfortable and unjudged
Charles,
I think we have to be very careful with the unjudged comment. Students will complain that you are always judging them. You have to set the tone as the instructor of the course and continually repeat expectations.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
