Second-most-common subject of student emails the night before the big paper is due: "I'm completely confused by the assignment for the big paper, which I just started, so I'm thinking maybe I should go back and catch up on those missed 3-point discussion-board assignments from a month ago. What do you think? Or perhaps I could do something for extra credit?" [sigh.]
"I'm thinking maybe I should go back and catch up on those missed 3-point discussion-board assignments from a month ago"
ReplyDeleteCaptain Subtext translates: I have no idea how to calculate what those low-stakes assignments will do to my course grade alongside the big paper that I'm going to turn in late and incomplete. Is there anyway [sic] I can raise my grade from an F to an F plus?
That's about right, I think, except that I think there's a somewhat higher level of denial about the possible maximum grade (they need at least a C for graduation credit, and several of these students are hoping to graduate, in fact, have already "walked." In several cases, I'm pretty sure they've also failed this class at least once already, so the denial should be diminished, but apparently hope springs eternal).
DeleteP.S. apologies for this going up just above your post. I pre-scheduled it last night, and didn't realize yours was scheduled, too.
On the other hand, it looks like we've got something of a theme going. I almost titled this one something along the lines of "innumeracy, again."
DeleteNo worries about the post scheduling. I rescheduled mine appx. 3 times and then I must have slipped and made it live before I'd pasted in the part after the jump, and then I reverted it to draft, etc. I don't think it was possible for you to know when it would really go live.
DeleteGlad to hear it. I usually at least glance at the post list and try to allow any scheduled posts a 1/2-day or so at the top before adding something. I thought I saw a couple of drafts, but nothing actually scheduled.
DeleteI haven't started on anything and have missed the last 8 weeks of class. Can I come see you about what I need to do to catch up? When are your office hours? And where is your office?
ReplyDeleteOh, this is an online class? Where do I email you? Can you just waive everything I missed?
PS I haven't been on here because I couldn't remember my login for CM, so I shouldn't be mocking anyone right now.
Welcome back!
DeleteI think I've already dealt with most of the students in the category to which you allude above (although one or two of them are still convinced they'll "catch up," but show limited to no signs of actually doing so, so there will undoubtedly be some angst once the final final deadline, including grace period, passes, and I enter the Fs they've earned). There's also at least one student who is on the Bb roster (and so should have been getting all the course emails), but who has never logged on. That one ought to be pretty easy to deal with (I enter a "never attended" grade, and never hear of/from the student again unless (s)he enrolls in one of my classes again). However, a similar situation last summer resulted in late-August missives from a student who needed my signature on a form (hard-copy only, no substitutes) attesting that he'd never done anything in the course RIGHT AWAY so that he could register for fall-term classes. So we'll see.