Tis the season for the flake-outs....
Conversation 1
Me: Stu A, I'm concerned about your absences.
Stu A: I took this class before and had to withdraw, so that part was review for me.
Me: ok, as long as you know what you're doing.
Stu A: I came to ask you why this proof isn't working?
Me: Because you're wrong on lines 3, 6, 7, 8 -- maybe you needed to come to class?
Stu A: Blank Look
Conversation 2 -- context, before class when I'm setting up the PowerPoints
Me: Hey, Ice Fishing Dudes (cuz they always dress like they've just left the ice house -- and wear their jackets for the whole class... kind of weird) -- was your homework to work on these rules?
IFD: blank, stupid looks... umm..
Me: So, you didn't bother to do your homework...
Also -- all three of the IFDs missed the last exam. They're allowed to take a make-up. I suspect they thought they'd get the same make-up, so one would get the questions and tell the others... but, I wrote three distinct make-up exams for them. Hmmm..... it sucks when your proffie figures out your plan, doesn't it fellas?
Other semesters I'd feel bad about having this level of irritation toward my students -- but I really don't feel bad about it at all.
2 comments:
Hahaha, I know that blank look!
And good idea to write the different make-ups to screw up the cheating plans! I got so sick of students trying to do this in the past that I tried something new this year. I let students make up one test, but the make-up is a cumulative test at the end of the semester. So far, I've had less missed tests and I haven't had to write make-up tests for each unit, but I don't know how pedagogically sound or acceptable this is...
I like the idea -- I may use it in my logic course.
The trick is making it a replacement grade, no matter what the prior grade was... that eliminates the 'maybe I'll guess better this time' folks, but lets the ones who have learned the material a chance to show that they know it.
Right now I do an optional final exam that becomes their final grade. IF their final exam grade is lower than their course grade, that's the grade they get. It's designed for the D student trying to prove they've earned a C.
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