Wednesday, February 8, 2012

"Noon" <> "Midnight"

Dr. Jekyll:  Good heavens.  This e-mail has me reaching for my special potion.

"I thought that the homework was due at midnight instead of noon. Is there a chance I can get an extension?"

Not that the CM audience needs further explanation, but here is how the deadline was listed in the syllabus.

"Homework Due Feb X @ noon"

Prof. Hyde: A snowflake after my own dark heart!

12 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2012 at 11:42 PM

    As an astronomy prof, I often get crap from students who complain that my labs meet at 5:30 a.m. In fact, they meet at 5:30 p.m.

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  3. Snarky WriterFebruary 9, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    I had to start setting the electronic dropbox to close at 11:59 PM because setting it for 12:00 AM confused the little darlings. They tended to think it was due on (for example) Feb. 3 at noon instead of midnight on Feb. 2. Despite me listing the due date as "midnight" everywhere else.

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    Replies
    1. introvert.profFebruary 9, 2012 at 8:46 AM

      Likewise. The other problem with setting the due time at 12:00 AM on Feb 3 is that the effective due date is Feb 2, but the due date shows up on the calendar as Feb 3.

      Delete
    2. BurntChromeFebruary 9, 2012 at 12:28 PM

      Same here. And even doing that didn't forestall all of the 'flakery of "I thought it closed at noon!" Yerk.

      Delete
  4. UnknownFebruary 9, 2012 at 9:48 AM

    After a series of conversations with students-as-lawyers, in which they asked questions like "does 12 mean 12:01?")I made my students' assignments due at 11:59:59.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AdjunctSlaveFebruary 9, 2012 at 11:14 AM

    Well, it sounds like a student with historical depth, historical consciousness. In the 19th century, "noon of night" was one way to say "midnight." So maybe it was just a simple misunderstanding by a student of great historical or poetic sensitivity.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 4:24 PM

      The problem with this explanation is that, partly thanks to NCLB, modern students don't know any history at all. One of my best physics majors ever had never heard of the War of 1812. (I suppose she thought the Star Spangled Banner was written by Jimi Hendrix, if she even knows who that was.) Also, I've been asked several times now, "If there was a World War II, does that mean there was a World War I?" What really gets me about that was that there has been plenty on TV about those wars.

      Delete
    2. introvert.profFebruary 10, 2012 at 7:12 AM

      Geez, Frod, I guess great minds work in the same channels.

      Delete
  6. Stephen KarlsonFebruary 9, 2012 at 1:13 PM

    There's a reason the "noon train" leaves at 12p01 and the "midnight train" leaves at 11p59 or 12a01. Just call me the Rules Examiner.

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  7. The Contemplative CynicFebruary 9, 2012 at 10:49 PM

    Face hitting desk.

    ReplyDelete

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