TEACHSOC: Re: about midterm holidays

[Del Thomas Ph. D.]

I find this fascinating as it parallels a quick and dirty study I did, regarding learning.  Teachers were asked which they would be more likely to do, take away points for untimely/late work or give points (rewards) for those who have timely/ on time submissions.   90+% preferred to punish.   Why should you reward them for doing what they should.  (note the absence of respect)  This is a classic rejection of the good science on learning.  Another victory for lecture think. What is learned are work patterns not suited for the non academic world. I do agree that classroom management has become more difficult.  I have had students drop my course because the 8 to 10 page syllabus was too much reading. The problems come from the dominant definition of the classroom situation and the use of untested instructional materials.  And of course our failure to use  what we know about social learning. Based on the punitive content and lack of respect for students in the posts we may not be willing to focus on learning even if it was allowed. This situation is also difficult for students...  perhaps an example of disenchantment. Del GIMENEZ MARTHA E wrote: Thank you so much for the very thoughtful and helpful responses I have received, on and off line. I kept them to use them in the process of changing my syllabus next semester. I found particularly useful Keith Roberts suggestion about giving them choices. My concern about giving less points to make up exams was not intended to punish students but to be fair to students who had less time to prepare. Also very useful is the idea of spelling out policy about these issues in the syllabus, calling students' attention to these policies, making it very clear their responsibilities during the semester and explaining the reasons why it is important to develop certain learning and work patterns that will serve them well as students and beyond. I don't know whether it is just my perception but I think issues of class management have become increasingly demanding and complex in the last few years - my syllabi are beginning to resemble corporate contracts and I now require at the graduate level that students tell me in writing that they understand the course requirements and grading policy. Sigh..... Thanks again - this is what makes this list invaluable. Martha