Readers,
Here is an update on my progress with the online homework program Quest in my classroom. I entered this program fully aware of the main issues that would arise. The most prominent being that some students do not have access to the internet. I looked into the program and there is a way to print off assignments and you can access it on your phone using the free WiFi at school. That fixed the issue for most students.
However, now I'm running into issues simply because these are high school students. I have students sending me emails the night the assignment is due saying their internet froze so they couldn't finish their assignment. My response is that they should try completely shutting down their computer and browser and login in again to see if that reboots the program. If that doesn't work, I don't have any remorse for them because they should not have waited to the last day to finish the assignment (of which I give three full nights to complete).
Another issue is those students who are absent for more than 3 or 4 days in a row. Some are out of town, other students are ill. Do I excuse them from the assignment or since they know they have an online assignment every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they should have completed it anyway?
The worst issue of all, is now that it is week four of the school year, the buy in is not as strong. Many students are not even signing in to attempt the homework. Very few come in and ask questions. Instead they guess as many times as allowed which lowers their score tremendously.
I know I need to have a conversation with my students about all of these issues. I'm just wondering if I am doing the right thing by assigning these online homework's and assessments? Am I assigning too many? Am I expecting too much from 9th - 11th grade students? And the biggest underlying question I have...how am I suppose to try online and blended activities, when the majority of students refuse to do work outside of the classroom?
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteSince I haven't seen your course syllabus I do not know what the expectation is for these online assignments. However, if these expectations have been established on day one then I think you should enforce them. I understand some students may have technical issues, as you have mentioned, but these are young adults who need to start exercising good judgment.
Since these students are are of the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday submissions they should be held accountable for late/incomplete assignments. Of course it's your discretion whether to make exceptions for those students who inform you ahead of time of challenges making the deadline - but they should still complete the assignment at a later date.
I suggest you take a good look at Quest and determine if it benefits all parties. Is it serving your needs as a teacher? Their needs as a student (learner)? It seems as though some students may not be taking it seriously. Likewise, you are taking more time to troubleshoot their technical issues (which you shouldn't be) and trying to make accommodations.
Jason,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support on the first two paragraphs! It's good to hear I'm not going crazy.
And I know you are not a teacher but I almost laughed at the last paragraph because this program is super beneficial to the kids but students their age don't necessarily always see how benefitting it is. They look at work and unfortunately turn the other direction no matter what. I would be dealing with late submits if it were a different program anyways. Might as well have one that grades for me and that students can resubmit if they get a question wrong. I'd also like to add that with all these complications, I have had some really good outcomes with those using the program :)
Thanks for the input!
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'm super jealous as I dislike grading pages of math facts. It would be tough to deal with the excuses but in the long run the kids who do follow through will produce results to help you decide if the program is working for you.
Thanks for the support Ms. Naumann :) I'm only on week 5 of the school year, but so far it's getting better and better now that the students are acclimating...
DeleteI'll keep updating!
Erin,
ReplyDeleteyou aren't expecting too much from your students. I think they need to get used to doing homework in a new way. I wonder if you have a website where you could post these assignments and students could check it. This might help your kids that are out sick and would certainly encourage the students who have mysterious computer problems the night before it is due. One thing I might suggest is making these assignments with low point values. I believe our book on online learning states that it will be too much trouble for them to cheat and or not do it.
Michelle,
DeleteI like the idea of making the homeworks not worth too much. We grade on a standards based system and we use Marzano's law by making opportunity #1 15%, opportunity #2 25%, and opportunity #3 60%. Therefore the homeworks are only 15% of their grade and all the homeworks get averaged in that category. So if they have 5 homeworks, they all average to be that 15% :)
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteI am not a teacher, just a mom with 7 kids in the house, but I don't think what you are asking of them is too much for their grade level. If the internet were truly down, they'd panic because they couldn't access anything else. Yes, the phone still would work... :) Since you seem to have some uncertain incidents, would it be possible to have only 2 days a week and perhaps an extra credit given if submitted a day early or if every assignment that week is submitted on time? It sounds like you are doing your best to make learning possible for the kids. And for the kids who are gone for so many days in a row; if they know it's due, could they still submit it while not in class?
DeAnn,
DeleteThanks for the support! As for the two days a week, I typically do only assign it two days a week because I feel bad giving that much homework. Or I get behind and don't have time to make the third one haha. I like your idea of extra credit though!
And thankfully even if a student is absent, they can still access their homework as long as they have internet. That's why I like sticking to M, W, F because they know when they have homework that they need to check.
Thanks for the feedback!
Hi Erin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experiences with Quest! This sounds like an interesting program to use for your math classes and its awesome that you are trying out something online. I use canvas at my school and have had similar issues with students. I typically have assignments due at 11:59pm and give them two days to turn it in. I figured this gives them some time to work through the computer issues if they have them. Also my students get 2 days for every excused absence to make up missing work. If they miss their 2 days, I typically count the assignment as late and take a reduction. It looks like you are figuring out a system to deal with these issues, I just wanted to contribute. What grade level do you teach? Has it been helpful to have quest as a tech tool and would you recommend it to others?
Erin,
ReplyDeleteI too am a teacher of high schoolers. Gone are the days of homework. Students just don't do it, paper or digital. What if you took a flipped classroom approach? Assigning videos or brief learning module type activities that students could watch as their "homework." I have struggled with this exact same issue (no internet, no device, sun spots broke my wifi) whatever, with my students. I would also avoid making the part of learning that you have no control over (ie homework) graded. Maybe when the students get to class they take a graded assessment of some sort? Just my opinions. Best of luck.