I teach a college introduction course called, “Becoming a Master Student.” This is the first course that students take as they enter into our university. The idea is that students are introduced to college expectations online which include discussion boards, online testing, research in our library, the writing process and how to navigate the demands of the online learning modality. It is not a “hard” class, and I am a super easy grader. I believe in mentoring students through the process and helping them develop skills that will carry them through their college journey.
When this run of the course began 5 weeks ago, I had 39 students (one dropped the first morning). From that point, students trickled out. This morning, I posted 16 zeros on final exams. Sixteen students did not finish the course. Since no late work is accepted after the final day of the course, these sixteen students will have failed the course because they did not turn anything in. Sixteen. Of the 23 students that did turn in their work, 8 did not complete all of the discussion posts requirements for the week. That is a small percentage of the grade, but still.
Where have we gone wrong as a society? I’m completely dumbfounded by the concept of a zero. I hate issuing a zero. A zero (in my opinion) is just wreckless. A zero hurts my feelings. I shouldn’t take it personal, but a zero tells me that you didn’t care enough about yourself to finish the course. This means that I failed to equip you as a learner to take responsibility for yourself. Then again, I am glad that there is a process for establishing expectations before students get too far in to school and realize that the expectations are too great for them. It just makes me sad.
The ONLY time I have ever not missed an assignment is when Holly was in the hospital last year. I did not turn in one reflection and it dropped my grade from an A to an A-. I’ll never forget how that feels. I should let it go, but a zero means that I didn’t try. The truth is that I knew that I had worked hard to secure my A and I could let that one assignment go so that I could focus on Holly- plus, I plum ran out of time. So, okay. I get that. That one assignment, though, will haunt me for the rest of my educational journey. I am working on giving myself permission to let it go.
The point is that a zero is a choice. If you choose not to turn something in, you deserve the consequence. I’m willing to work with any student who makes a genuine effort. However, you have to do something. A zero is on you.
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