In most universities and colleges students are not compelled to enroll or register in particular classes. If they choose (as adults) to enroll and pay, I feel that they are adults and can decide whether or not they want to attend. Granted, as a graduate student still, I may be too immersed in the student role, but as a student I feel insulted when I am treated as if I am still being socialized to be a prompt and obedient worker rather than the adult that I am. As a professor, I experience the frustration of low attendance on occassion, but make it clear to my students that while I will not hold their hand through the class, or punish them for excessive absences, unless they are the most exceptional of students, not only will they not have the full experience of my spellbinding lectures (???), but since much of exam and homework material comes from information given in the classroom rather than what they can find in the textbook or assigned readings. I let them know both verbally and in the syllabus that it is much easier to pass my class than to fail it. If they fail, it must be because they have made a conscious decision to not do the work necessary, including attending to get the most information available.
This is just my opinion, but it has been effective. -- Karen Boyd, ABD Doctoral Candidate University of Notre Dame Department of Sociology 940 Flanner Hall Notre Dame, IN 46635 (574) 271-7083 (home) (574)631-7213 (office) (574)850-8062 (cellular) Quoting Chris Scheitle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > I understand that we should try to be as nice as possible, but at the > same time I don't think we should be so hesitant to have punitive > policies. I doubt their employers would provide rewards for showing up > on time to promote "adaptive working". Why reward something that > should be expected when signing up for a class (i.e. being there on > time)? > > Chris > > Robert Greene wrote: > > What about you single moms? Have have no control over their children who > operate on "kid" time,not grown-up time. I had a Saturday 8:00 AM class one > semester where every student but one was single mom and having raised three > myself, patience and tolerance seems less stressful. > > > > >>> "Del Thomas Ph. D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 01/31/06 8:22 AM >>> > > > > Hi, > > > > Isn't this punitive? Why not reward those who come on time and promote > > adaptive learning? > > > > Del > > > > Theodore Wagenaar wrote: > > > > >I teach Intro at 8 as well. I've found that I need to have a strict > > >attendance policy.More than5 mins late = 1/2 absence, more than 15 = 1 > > >absence. Students dropped at 4th absence. > > > > > >I also do a lot of discussion, but it is focused around specific > > >readings and videos. Variety is the key. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
