tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post2333945082696479863..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: e-Homework = ChaosFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-26835143047429242472009-05-12T00:23:00.000-05:002009-05-12T00:23:00.000-05:00My former office had a hollow steel door that had ...My former office had a hollow steel door that had been trimmed on the bottom to fit in the door frame. The result was that papers slid "under" the door ended up "in" the door, until sufficient opening and closing of the door had shredded them.<br /><br />I warned students about this, and only a few were still stupid enough to try (fewer than 1 a year).Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14528751349030084532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-76164572931807550542009-05-11T21:35:00.000-05:002009-05-11T21:35:00.000-05:00I had a student turn in his homework by sliding it...I had a student turn in his homework by sliding it under my door, but I had my dog in my office and yes, he started to eat it. Fortunately he is a very nice dog and when the student got a custodian to open my office he was able to retrieve the HW from my dog, slightly nibbled.Fitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-40962223006477418012009-05-11T09:11:00.000-05:002009-05-11T09:11:00.000-05:00I teach online classes, and this is our policy:
"...I teach online classes, and this is our policy:<br /><br />"Hello, class –<br /><br />This is a reminder that it is each student’s responsibility to make sure that assignments are correctly posted. If an assignment is posted as an attachment, this includes making sure that the correct attachment is included and in the correct format.<br /><br />Please take the following steps when posting assignments:<br /><br />1. After you post your assignment, please double check that you can open and read your assignment before you exit the classroom.<br /><br />2. If you worked on the assignment in multiple drafts, please make sure the correct draft is posted. <br /><br />3. Make sure that you have posted the assignment to the correct class, and to the correct forum. <br /><br />4. If you are posting your assignment as an attachment, be sure the correct attachment is included. In addition, please make sure your attachment is posted as an MS Office 2003 or 2007 document. Do not post your assignment as a Works or Wordpad document.<br /><br />5. If you discover that you posted the wrong attachment, click Remove on the right and re-post your assignment.<br /><br />Please understand that if the wrong attachment is included, or if the attachment is in the wrong format or posted in the wrong class, the assignment will be considered missing. If the assignment needs to be reposted later to correct the problem, the lateness policy will apply. 10% will deducted for each day the assignment is posted after the deadline, and the assignment will not be accepted if it is more than four days late.<br /><br />If you have questions about this policy, feel free to post them in the Questions thread in the Main forum.<br /><br />Thank you."<br /><br />And this is the reminder note:<br />"This is a required reminder that your Appendix was not submitted by the deadline<br /> of midnight on Sunday.<br /><br />Please be aware that late assignments will receive a 10% deduction for each day<br /> that they are late. Assignments are late if they are not posted by midnight of<br /> the day they are due. <br /><br />Assignments that are more than 4 days late will not be accepted unless we have<br /> negotiated and mutually agreed upon an alternative submission date in advance.<br /><br />Unless an Incomplete grade has been granted, student assignments submitted after<br /> the last day of class will not be accepted.<br /><br />Please note that school server troubles are not an excuse for late papers. If you<br /> are unable to connect to the school server and upload an assignment to your<br /> Individual forum, send a copy of the assignment to my inbox or alternate email<br /> address (which are listed in this email) as proof that you attempted to post<br /> the assignment on time. In your email, you must tell me that you were unable to<br /> connect to the school server. You must then upload the assignment to your<br /> Individual forum at your earliest opportunity. Send assignments to my inbox<br /> ONLY if the school server is down. Instructors cannot, by school policy,<br /> grade an assignment that comes to their personal email. It must be posted in<br /> your Individual forum to count for grading purposes. These policies are<br /> necessary because any contact outside of the Online Learning System cannot be verified or archived.<br /><br />If you feel you have received this in error, please contact me ASAP to rectify<br /> the situation"Courtneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-22313750088514251782009-05-10T15:34:00.000-05:002009-05-10T15:34:00.000-05:00I generally require both a paper copy (that I grad...I generally require both a paper copy (that I grade and return) and an electronic copy (that I keep for future reference).<br /><br />I gave up on both e-mail and web-based turn-in systems, as managing the files was damn near impossible.<br /><br />I now require students either to put their files on a shared file system and make them publically readable, or put them on the web.<br />This would probalby not work for classes in which copying is a problem, but I'm mainly teaching grad students and seniors, and most of the assignments do not lend them selves easily to copying (or the copying is trivially detectible).<br /><br />I refuse to accept anything in doc or docx format. In fact, I used to have an automatic reply that told people "you have sent me a file in a proprietary (doc) format--it has been deleted unread." Saved me a lot junk mail from the dean's office.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14528751349030084532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-1136841713587397102009-05-09T13:09:00.000-05:002009-05-09T13:09:00.000-05:00I have my students submit electronically whenever ...I have my students submit electronically whenever possible, although I will accept paper if need be... most of them prefer it, although I have had a few who consistently try on the <I>computer gremlins ate my homework</I> defense. <br /><br />In those cases, I tell them that they must submit all further assignments in paper since I'm not playing those games.Today.com Exileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07078956111895708119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-55537413478981274532009-05-09T11:28:00.000-05:002009-05-09T11:28:00.000-05:00I use Blackboard for EVERYTHING to manage my 80 un...I use Blackboard for EVERYTHING to manage my 80 undergrads. There's a bit of a learning curve at the beginning of the semester, but things really pay off within about 3 weeks. The first day of class I distribute an "eHomework Guide" that I've written up with all my expectations about file naming, submission, etc - and I make absolutely sure to point out that both Blackboard and Turnitin time stamp. There's still some drama, of course (it amazes me that kids with 2 cell phones *and* a blackberry can't submit their work on time) but I make it clear that getting their work to me on time, in the correct format, is THEIR job - not mine. I post all my assignments at least a week in advance. I do everything I can to leave them no excuse - which just means I get to point that out when they come howling to me with excuses. [sigh]Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07305594559414732984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-1224128739970753152009-05-08T17:16:00.000-05:002009-05-08T17:16:00.000-05:00I considered assigning homework that students coul...I considered assigning homework that students could upload to a Blackboard or WebCT drop box, but was worried about unforeseen technical difficulties as well. The best way I can think to solve it would be to assign something (for no marks or very few marks) in the first two weeks where you introduce yourself and give a few ideas on what you'd like to see in the course, and have it be a submission using the same process. That way, you get the kinks out early and you can say "well you had the opportunity to figure things out early" if a student claims technical difficulties once the big project is due at the end of the year.Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02264848674807433431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-50896409137127798962009-05-08T15:33:00.000-05:002009-05-08T15:33:00.000-05:00I am astounded that the "electronic generation" - ...<I>I am astounded that the "electronic generation" - presumably these kids grew up with all kinds of digital devices and files - has such trouble with what even we older luddites would consider basic stuff.</I>I don't think they actually have trouble--just that they believe that you'll accept "computer trouble" as a viable excuse for failing to do something pretty basic.TW Andrewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-85289411860892317652009-05-08T15:26:00.000-05:002009-05-08T15:26:00.000-05:00I have to believe that any student who failed to g...I have to believe that any student who failed to get you their homework was simply using the new format as an excuse.<br /><br />I can't imagine that there is a single college student who can't manage to fill in an email.<br /><br />If 90% of the students had failed, there might be cause for some suspicion. When it's 15%, I suspect that it's just as an excuse.TW Andrewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-7545376544673318632009-05-08T04:26:00.000-05:002009-05-08T04:26:00.000-05:00Try and get your school to switch to Moodle. It is...Try and get your school to switch to Moodle. It is open-source (Blackboard costs a fortune) and not so click-intensive. It is also good that *Moodle* enforces the deadlines, not me.<br /><br />You have to communicate to the students: pdf format, put your NAME on the paper, use a special format for the file name so I don't have to rename 17 "Exercise-1.pdf" files, etc. etc. <br /><br />I now use Moodle for all of my hand-in work, and it does make my life easier.<br /><br />One tip: Always make the deadline before midnight. I once had a deadline of 9.30 because class began at 9.45, and they would work all night through, and then fall asleep in class (if they bothered to stay). 11.55 pm lets them get some sleep before the 8 am lecture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-73304409757854003932009-05-07T21:02:00.000-05:002009-05-07T21:02:00.000-05:00I used Blackboard digital dropbox for one course a...I used Blackboard digital dropbox for one course and gave myself carpal tunnel syndrome just managing the files. Blackboard is pretty poor when it comes to ergonomics. That's the only reason we burn through trees for my courses. It's better than surgery.PUI scientistanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-53637345468452794702009-05-07T13:58:00.000-05:002009-05-07T13:58:00.000-05:00Regarding time-stamps, I simply require that the e...Regarding time-stamps, I simply require that the e-mail hit my in-box by the specified time. The attached assignment is only accepted if the e-mail it was attached to arrived by the deadline. I advise them to use their campus account, to avoid transmission delays, and if they send it at the last minute they do so at their own risk. One minute past the deadline counts as late (half credit up to 24 hours, zero credit after that). The trick is to establish your reputation as a hard-ass from the very beginning.Margaret Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-23506520022607235612009-05-07T12:54:00.000-05:002009-05-07T12:54:00.000-05:00I think fancier web-based systems can work better ...I think fancier web-based systems can work better if they provide some way for the students to download what they've submitted to verify that it's what they were intending to submit. With email it's easy to screw something up.<br /><br />Anthony: You do realize it's trivial to alter the time stamps, right? I guess it's better to trust your students in a situation like this but on the other hand if this is for an IT class I think you may be underestimating them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-56529059772341934702009-05-07T12:29:00.000-05:002009-05-07T12:29:00.000-05:00I always require e-mailed assignments now, and it ...I always require e-mailed assignments now, and it works great, but it took a few years. My syllabus now bristles with scary language about it.<br /><br />I like the paper-saving, and the ease of checking for cheating. (I can also adjust ridiculous margins to see how long the paper really is.)<br /><br />I don't agree, though, with the "these kids grew up with this technology" argument. Some of these students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and did not grow up with this stuff. It *is* their responsibility to learn it, but they are not contemptible for not already knowing it.Margaret Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-54060188535695977592009-05-07T11:04:00.000-05:002009-05-07T11:04:00.000-05:00I use my university's online system for various te...I use my university's online system for various teaching-related activities (posting review questions, answer keys, grades) but it takes 11 clicks just to get to the class site and there are all sorts of browser incompatibility issues that afflict students and me (I keep an older version of a particular browser around just so I can access this site) and then there's the "My internet connection went out" excuse (among others). And so on.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-3573834429798204492009-05-07T10:01:00.000-05:002009-05-07T10:01:00.000-05:00I have really liked getting email submissions of w...I have really liked getting email submissions of weekly assignments in one of my smaller (<30 students) classes. But, it has taken a while to formulate all the written instructions I have to give them to anticipate and avoid as many problems as possible (e.g., about acceptable formats). I am constantly shocked at how many students are technologically inept and can't do basic things. I make it clear that it is not my problem to teach them how to attach a file in whatever mail client they happen to be using, or how to save a file as an .rtf in whatever ancient word processing program that is on their roommate's computer. Luckily, if they ask me these things in class, one of the other students usually knows how to solve their problem. I meanwhile, try to hide my...well, um, this is kinda harsh, but what I feel at these moments is basically contempt that someone who grew up in the computer age has no clue about these basic details and thinks it is appropriate to whine to a professor about it. Some of them act like what I am asking them to do is so hard. And these are usually seniors who are about to graduate! (Oh yea, I do give them the option of handing in a hard copy.)<br /><br />BTW, something to consider if you are having assignments emailed is that many mail servers block incoming emails if a virus is detected. Ours just blocks the email and gives no message to the sender, so one of my many printed rules is that it is up to the students to make sure they are running the free anti-virus software available from our university and that the file they send is virus-free.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-57341392196529056642009-05-07T09:55:00.000-05:002009-05-07T09:55:00.000-05:00I am astounded that the "electronic generation" - ...I am astounded that the "electronic generation" - presumably these kids grew up with all kinds of digital devices and files - has such trouble with what even we older luddites would consider basic stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-76695258817327439832009-05-07T09:40:00.000-05:002009-05-07T09:40:00.000-05:00I post assignemts to Blackboard, and much of the "...I post assignemts to Blackboard, and much of the "my computer at home crashed" drama is avoided by telling them the due date is firm, so it's probably prudent to try 24 hours ahead of the due date, so that if there is a problem they will have time to remedy it.zoelouisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-30171887775121523392009-05-07T09:05:00.001-05:002009-05-07T09:05:00.001-05:00Turnitin.com (Turn It In) seemed good for my kid's...Turnitin.com (Turn It In) seemed good for my kid's school, and should work if one's institution has paid for it. It also checks homeworks again some database for plagiarism and against each other for too much similarity.<br /><br />I don't assign enough such assignments to make it worthwhile in my current classes.John Vidalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09871768524749705799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-14402429842275902862009-05-07T09:05:00.000-05:002009-05-07T09:05:00.000-05:00hmmm. that's really interesting, and I see where i...hmmm. that's really interesting, and I see where it would be tricky for a professor, since it does come off as kind of harsh--people genuinely do make technological mistakes--but at the same time, some of the "mistakes" are a.) so ridiculous it's actually irritating considering your students basically grew up in the 21st century and presumably have been using computers for quite some time, and b.) probably just excuses for not getting it done on time.<br /><br />I TA'd for an intro English class this fall and we got the second one ALL THE TIME, although at first I really did feel bad because I figured people were just making mistakes... but then it was the SAME PEOPLE making the SAME MISTAKE (this was the first year a lot of freshman came to school with Word 2007 on their laptops, and they kept saving their files as .docx, so they couldn't open them in class where the computers were running Word 2003). at some point you gotta figure that stuff out, people...it's called basic computer competence.<br /><br />anyway, the first reason I thought this was interesting was that in my major department (geology) we hand in probably 70% of our homework electronically, via either email attachment or Blackboard. I'm sure plenty of us had the "forgot the attachment" problem at the beginning, but after a couple years it's really not that difficult (and saves a lot of trees) :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08974119137861459963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-6430016179261415762009-05-07T08:53:00.000-05:002009-05-07T08:53:00.000-05:00Like Natalie, the electronic option worked out rea...Like Natalie, the electronic option worked out really well for me. <br /><br />Some of the things did help were <br />- giving the option of not submitting electronically but in class, <br />- laying down some ground rules about what sort of attachments were acceptable (since i worked with Hebrew, there was a mandatory font or it had to be in *pdf* format), <br />- having a small enough class, so that it was feasible to send everyone a quick "thanks, i got your email (and sometimes, hey where's the attachment)" form,<br />- and being a bit more flexible about deadlines - assuming that it wasn't late until i'd started grading it (which sometimes took a few days).<br /><br />There were a few hassles, but the biggest problem was actually a surprise. Receiving papers electronically makes it a lot easier to check for copying. And when you 'compare' one person's document with another in a word processing program, you can find out really quickly how close they are. The students seemed a bit surprised that I'd accuse them of cheating, but the comparison meant that from a statistical perspective there was no way these documents could not have a similar source. It was an enlightening experience (although probably more for me than the students, unfortunately)...Brenda Kronemeijer-Heyinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06297355349266574983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44382420684710291902009-05-07T08:50:00.000-05:002009-05-07T08:50:00.000-05:00What about having a date/time stamp on the bottom ...What about having a date/time stamp on the bottom of your shoe, and stepping on all the students' work? Then no student will feel that his/her work was singled out for stomping.<br /><br />Plus I think it would be fun to stomp on all those papers.<br /><br />My only request this year was that if the students absolutely had to email me their papers, to please use .doc and not .docx. So far, 40% of the papers are .docx.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-37566480874130851362009-05-07T08:10:00.000-05:002009-05-07T08:10:00.000-05:00I would be a bit weary about he "forgetting the at...I would be a bit weary about he "forgetting the attachment" since that can be used as a "ooops... didn't do it on time but if I pretend I attach it it will buy me time".<br /><br />every time I forget the attachment I know that when I have pressed the send button... and then writes another email one min later ;)challhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10421219663804628119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-21345365446535691182009-05-07T07:52:00.000-05:002009-05-07T07:52:00.000-05:00Yeah, emailed assignments tend to generate a lot m...Yeah, emailed assignments tend to generate a lot more work for the professor/teacher, IME. Online drop boxes are a better solution, but it takes a couple trials to figure out exactly what to say in giving the assignment to make sure it works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-64691589732974069222009-05-07T07:39:00.000-05:002009-05-07T07:39:00.000-05:00I've given my students the option to submit all th...I've given my students the option to submit all their homework electronically or physically in my class this term (I'm really trying to reduce paper production) and it's worked out really well. I think the advantage is, people who are really uncomfortable with email and attachments (and are more likely to mess it up) can still hand it in in person, while that 85% who has no problems can save paper.<br /><br />I think it also helps I use gmail, which can open just about any file format you can write in.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849196211716308785noreply@blogger.com