October 14, 2008
-
To put it bluntly, when a student claims that he/she was gone for an excused absence but then can not show documentation of the absence, I automatically assume the worst. I frown in suspicion. The student perhaps is lying or hoping I forget that I haven’t seen the documentation, etc. Apparently, my syllabus’ rules hold no value.
In reflecting further, I’ve noticed that students really haven’t come up with any new argumentative strategies when it comes to arguing their excuses since I started teaching. It’s the same arguments over and over. And my go-to point everytime? It’s in the syllabus; I need proof. No proof, no assessment.
Items to note about the Red River Valley Research Corridor Summit yesterday in Fargo: a) I am no sciencer, but I can definitely try to light the fires in my students that makes them want to be innovative and go into the science & technology fields. b) NDSCS wasn’t mentioned too much (one dude fumbled over the name & on the video we were NSCS), which was a bummer since we were a sponser of the dang event. c) I got to meet Byron Dorgan who is shorter than I am in my heels which, for some reason, I found oddly amusing. d) I watched Kristi work her networking magic in getting a company interested in our students. e) I talked to our own president about the upcoming measures (Vote “No” on Measures 1 and 2, people! Don’t make tuition increase!) and election. f) The money & BRAIN POWER was enormous in that very cold banquet room. g) The very cool first speaker, Dean Kamen, and Dorgan have been on the Colbert Report – gotta find the YouTube clips of that a.s.a.p.
Comments (1)
Heh heh, “sciencer.” I think to an extent it will happen naturally, as so many issues now concern science and technology.