Thanks for the post, the series, and the email (which I saw, read, but have yet to respond to). I really appreciate what you’ve done, and am so grateful!
It's important to share "all the things" we, as educators, experience. I thank you for being so upfront. Ungrading is something I want to explore in faculty development - but people always have questions about the challenges and what to do about them. As a non-teaching faculty, I don't have the opportunity to experiment but I will be able to share these examples.
I don't have any answers, but I can say you are not alone!
I experienced some of the same issues just this summer. I was teaching a small class (5 students) on python programming language, and one student turned in nothing, kept promising late work which never came (even after the class was over, which I accepted (!)) and then wanted a much higher grade than he deserved. I had a very lenient late work policy - late work is accepted, but then as you said and I also read on the Grading for Growth blog by David Clark and Robert Talbert that students prioritize class work with hard deadlines, and understandably so. This semester I went back to a no late work policy just for this reason.
Thanks! I've also been experimenting with ways to incorporate the right amount of flexibility into my deadline policy this semester. I'm looking forward to reporting on it later in the semester!
I feel very seen - especially with regards to last semester. Students were very disengaged despite my best efforts and robust alt grading practices. So far this semester seems a lot more “normal”.
Thank you for saying this! I've heard from lots of folks who had similar experiences. It's amazing how much the experience can change depending on the students in the room.
Thanks for the post, the series, and the email (which I saw, read, but have yet to respond to). I really appreciate what you’ve done, and am so grateful!
It's important to share "all the things" we, as educators, experience. I thank you for being so upfront. Ungrading is something I want to explore in faculty development - but people always have questions about the challenges and what to do about them. As a non-teaching faculty, I don't have the opportunity to experiment but I will be able to share these examples.
Thanks, I hope the posts and resources will be helpful to the faculty you work with!
Thank you for sharing such an honest post!
I don't have any answers, but I can say you are not alone!
I experienced some of the same issues just this summer. I was teaching a small class (5 students) on python programming language, and one student turned in nothing, kept promising late work which never came (even after the class was over, which I accepted (!)) and then wanted a much higher grade than he deserved. I had a very lenient late work policy - late work is accepted, but then as you said and I also read on the Grading for Growth blog by David Clark and Robert Talbert that students prioritize class work with hard deadlines, and understandably so. This semester I went back to a no late work policy just for this reason.
Thanks! I've also been experimenting with ways to incorporate the right amount of flexibility into my deadline policy this semester. I'm looking forward to reporting on it later in the semester!
I feel very seen - especially with regards to last semester. Students were very disengaged despite my best efforts and robust alt grading practices. So far this semester seems a lot more “normal”.
Thank you for saying this! I've heard from lots of folks who had similar experiences. It's amazing how much the experience can change depending on the students in the room.