In addition to receiving an F on the assignment and the possibility of receiving an F for the course, students who are caught cheating will be ineligible to enroll in future classes with me, so long as there are seats available in other sections of the same class.
And that last clause is only in there because I don't think the school would allow me to ban students from my class if there weren't other options.
I never thought I'd actually have to list this, but for the first time ever I had two students who got caught cheating in class sign up for the same class with me again the following semester.
Small and very "student centered" school that to my knowledge, has never in its history expelled anyone for cheating and doesn't allow profs to block students from classes--I've had some awkward semesters, is all I'll say about that.
Indeed. I was actually a bit surprised, the first time I had a student cheat very early in the semester, by how viscerally I wanted her OUT of my class. I just didn't want to deal on a regular basis with someone who had so blatantly tried to lie to me (and the cheating -- plagiarism in this case -- was blatant, and not even well done). But I wasn't sure whether I could suggest she drop. Fortunately, she did.
I've had a good many students who failed through not doing the work return to my class. On the whole, I consider that a good sign (though it may well just be a sign that they don't pay attention to the instructor's name, and/or don't remember my name). I haven't had anybody with whom I went through an honor case return, however, and I'm just as glad of that.
And here's Dick Tingle's take on that situation, courtesy of the retrospective tab. He managed to be more magnanimous than I fear I would (but he also had some time to cool off, and the power to demand an apology).
Students who make an appointment with me outside my office hours, and then don't show up (without notifying me) will not be getting any further appointments.
I think it's already pretty strong, but I may be strengthening the part that says "assignments must be handed in in the place and format specified, by the date specified, to get credit." It's getting far too common for me to receive an email from a student I haven't seen for weeks, and who is behind on multiple assignments, saying "here's all my late work," with a bunch of attachments -- or, even worse, a single one. Apparently I'm supposed to sort it all out and give credit as appropriate in the LMS gradebook. Admittedly our LMS "my grades" feature is considerably less user-friendly than it could be, so students can't really rely on it for a quick check of what they have outstanding, but I provide a course calendar that, among other things, could be printed out and used as a checklist of what needs to be done when, and where to submit it. It can look overwhelming if students fall behind, but it's manageable if they keep up, and even those who fall behind could figure out where they stand if they'd spend a systematic half-hour or so working through a printout of the list with pen in hand. But apparently some of the consider that my job.
I also suspect that some things aren't coming in in the designated places because a plagiarism check is now built in to our assignment upload feature. Of course, I can also check papers myself, and will be doing so if for some reason I decide to accept an emailed paper. Mostly I'm just replying to the emails with reminders that the work needs to be uploaded to the designated spot(s) on the LMS, then filing away the email. If the files don't show up on the LMS, they won't get graded, and I'm pretty sure the syllabus covers me on that (and I know that my chair will back me up as long as it does).
"All grade disputes must be brought to my attention within one week."
Not that they won't ask about regrading assignments at the end of the semester but at least this covers my ass when I say no.
"If I claim that you plagiarized and you say that you didn't, then I will ask a colleague to view the paper. If that colleague agrees with me, you will fail an additional assignment, along with the one you plagiarized."
OK, that will never fly but a poor guy can dream, can't he?
I teach high school. I plan on bolding, increasing the font size, and maybe even underlining the part about how the student is responsible for catching up on the work they miss when they're absent. Even if the absence is for a school activity.
I want to add something about effort and using class time wisely, but haven't figured out how to word it.
Do syllabus rules even matter in high school? I was under the impression that parents and school admin had more of a say in how you are supposed to give students extra chances to pass.
They don't matter nearly as much as college syllabi. However, they are used to explain each teacher's class policies and procedures, and to clarify the school district's generally vague requirements. That's why I plan to further emphasize that absent students really are required to do the work.
Unfortunately we are pressed to give them multitudes of chances to do the work and pass.
I teach general ed, intro astronomy for non-majors. I also teach third-semester, calculus-based physics for engineers and scientists.
The syllabus for the general-ed course is 20 pages long and counting. This is because this class is loaded with freshpersons, so that patently unprofessional, immature behavior is quite common.
The syllabus for the physics-for-engineers course is only 6 pages long. This is because this is a higher-level class: as the third-semester class in the introductory physics sequence, the students have been through the ringer at least twice.
It kills me, but I need to lengthen the syllabus for the physics-for-engineers class, probably to the full 20+ pages. The patently unprofessional, immature behavior finally has become common enough to need it.
For BOTH, I am ALSO adding a section on RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS. It may run to several more pages.
At my joint, a high-level administrator sends emails in Comic Sans. I consider myself pretty technically savvy, and I know my way around a word processor better than most, but I have no interest in changing the font on a damn email, much less to one whose name begs for the message not to be taken seriously.
In addition to receiving an F on the assignment and the possibility of receiving an F for the course, students who are caught cheating will be ineligible to enroll in future classes with me, so long as there are seats available in other sections of the same class.
ReplyDeleteAnd that last clause is only in there because I don't think the school would allow me to ban students from my class if there weren't other options.
I never thought I'd actually have to list this, but for the first time ever I had two students who got caught cheating in class sign up for the same class with me again the following semester.
Small and very "student centered" school that to my knowledge, has never in its history expelled anyone for cheating and doesn't allow profs to block students from classes--I've had some awkward semesters, is all I'll say about that.
DeleteIndeed. I was actually a bit surprised, the first time I had a student cheat very early in the semester, by how viscerally I wanted her OUT of my class. I just didn't want to deal on a regular basis with someone who had so blatantly tried to lie to me (and the cheating -- plagiarism in this case -- was blatant, and not even well done). But I wasn't sure whether I could suggest she drop. Fortunately, she did.
DeleteI've had a good many students who failed through not doing the work return to my class. On the whole, I consider that a good sign (though it may well just be a sign that they don't pay attention to the instructor's name, and/or don't remember my name). I haven't had anybody with whom I went through an honor case return, however, and I'm just as glad of that.
And here's Dick Tingle's take on that situation, courtesy of the retrospective tab. He managed to be more magnanimous than I fear I would (but he also had some time to cool off, and the power to demand an apology).
DeleteStudents who make an appointment with me outside my office hours, and then don't show up (without notifying me) will not be getting any further appointments.
ReplyDeleteI think it's already pretty strong, but I may be strengthening the part that says "assignments must be handed in in the place and format specified, by the date specified, to get credit." It's getting far too common for me to receive an email from a student I haven't seen for weeks, and who is behind on multiple assignments, saying "here's all my late work," with a bunch of attachments -- or, even worse, a single one. Apparently I'm supposed to sort it all out and give credit as appropriate in the LMS gradebook. Admittedly our LMS "my grades" feature is considerably less user-friendly than it could be, so students can't really rely on it for a quick check of what they have outstanding, but I provide a course calendar that, among other things, could be printed out and used as a checklist of what needs to be done when, and where to submit it. It can look overwhelming if students fall behind, but it's manageable if they keep up, and even those who fall behind could figure out where they stand if they'd spend a systematic half-hour or so working through a printout of the list with pen in hand. But apparently some of the consider that my job.
ReplyDeleteI also suspect that some things aren't coming in in the designated places because a plagiarism check is now built in to our assignment upload feature. Of course, I can also check papers myself, and will be doing so if for some reason I decide to accept an emailed paper. Mostly I'm just replying to the emails with reminders that the work needs to be uploaded to the designated spot(s) on the LMS, then filing away the email. If the files don't show up on the LMS, they won't get graded, and I'm pretty sure the syllabus covers me on that (and I know that my chair will back me up as long as it does).
My syllabus is already too long, but I'd like to work in some reference to this page on the behavioral differences between A and C students.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. That's very helpful!
DeleteI'm thinking of using it on my next syllabus or LMS site for the class.
"All grade disputes must be brought to my attention within one week."
ReplyDeleteNot that they won't ask about regrading assignments at the end of the semester but at least this covers my ass when I say no.
"If I claim that you plagiarized and you say that you didn't, then I will ask a colleague to view the paper. If that colleague agrees with me, you will fail an additional assignment, along with the one you plagiarized."
OK, that will never fly but a poor guy can dream, can't he?
I teach high school. I plan on bolding, increasing the font size, and maybe even underlining the part about how the student is responsible for catching up on the work they miss when they're absent. Even if the absence is for a school activity.
ReplyDeleteI want to add something about effort and using class time wisely, but haven't figured out how to word it.
Do syllabus rules even matter in high school? I was under the impression that parents and school admin had more of a say in how you are supposed to give students extra chances to pass.
DeleteThey don't matter nearly as much as college syllabi. However, they are used to explain each teacher's class policies and procedures, and to clarify the school district's generally vague requirements. That's why I plan to further emphasize that absent students really are required to do the work.
DeleteUnfortunately we are pressed to give them multitudes of chances to do the work and pass.
I teach general ed, intro astronomy for non-majors. I also teach third-semester, calculus-based physics for engineers and scientists.
ReplyDeleteThe syllabus for the general-ed course is 20 pages long and counting. This is because this class is loaded with freshpersons, so that patently unprofessional, immature behavior is quite common.
The syllabus for the physics-for-engineers course is only 6 pages long. This is because this is a higher-level class: as the third-semester class in the introductory physics sequence, the students have been through the ringer at least twice.
It kills me, but I need to lengthen the syllabus for the physics-for-engineers class, probably to the full 20+ pages. The patently unprofessional, immature behavior finally has become common enough to need it.
For BOTH, I am ALSO adding a section on RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS. It may run to several more pages.
I shall convert mine to Comic Sans font as it fits in well with the academic rigor (mortis) and professional standards of my uni's current president.
ReplyDeleteIn that case, why don't you convert it to Dingbats? ;-)/2
DeleteWe are lucky in that we have the only uni president with a font named for him!
DeleteAt my joint, a high-level administrator sends emails in Comic Sans. I consider myself pretty technically savvy, and I know my way around a word processor better than most, but I have no interest in changing the font on a damn email, much less to one whose name begs for the message not to be taken seriously.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete