What do you want?
I had an online class to start Monday. There was an assignment due on Saturday which required them to read an excerpt of a case in the book, and answer questions about the excerpt. Now, I’m well aware that everyone may or may not have received a book by the first day, but I count on them to let me know that they don’t have it. Normally, they say they don’t have the book, it’ll get there whatever day, then I extend the time for them to do the work. Easy Breezy. So, why does ya girl have to put me through all of this:
No book: Hi professor. I haven’t gotten my book yet. Is there any other way that I can complete the assignment? I won’t receive the book until next Thursday, so please bear with me.
Me: You’ll definitely need the book to complete this assignment. What would you like to do about your assignment? <–(this is me, setting her up to ask for an extension.)
Round 2
No book: Is there any way you can post the pages to doc sharing and I can do it that way?
Me: The text book is not online, so I can't post the chapters. *but yeah…I prolly coulda done that in hindsight.*
Round 3
No book: I don't know what to do because I won't have the book until Thursday!
Me: Crickets. *You are not going to get me to offer you and extension by whining.*
Round 4
No book: I was able to view the PowerPoint of the chapters on my phone. Can you send me the questions so I can have my work turned in on time?
Me: *Are there no students that she can call to ask this?* The case that you need to read isn't in the presentation, so the questions won't help you. I understand that you don't have the book and that isn't your fault. What I'm confused about is why you won't just ask if you can turn in your assignment when you get the book?
Round 5:
No book: I won't get full credit if I turn it in late.
Me: You won't get full credit if you answer questions about a case you've never read, either.
Round 6
No book: So, can I turn in my work when I get my book?
Me: No.
LOL! I was just kidding on the last part. Of course I told her yes she could turn it in. But for real, alladat because you didn't want to ask for what you really wanted. Okay, I get it , I see you being conscientious about your work ethic. You convinced me that you care about your work, but enough was enough in Round 4. Students always try to get you to offer them something they don't think they'll get if they ask. Then when you offer it, they ask for more. Been there, done that.
Or, was I wrong? Was no book really just that into turning in her assignment on time, and I misjudged? What would you have done?
Weigh in!
She wasn’t going to receive the book ‘until next Thursday’. Did she mean the second Thursday after the course started? If so, then I wouldn’t really be inclined to believe that it was all about her concern about turning the assignment in on time. (Is there something in the syllabus that suggests or clearly states late assignments aren’t going to fly?) I’d probably more inclined to think that (for whatever reason) the book hadn’t been ordered in time and she was hoping you would let it slide this one time at the beginning of the course. ‘I don’t know what to do’ also suggests that she was looking for a lil sympathy. I can be a bit of a hard-ass, though, so I guess that should be considered with my response.
Oh…what would I have done? I probably would have asked her when her book was ordered (are you permitted to do that?). I might have also told her that she could complete an additional assignment to offset whatever consequence there might be for the late completion.
next thursday? that’s 2 weeks after the class has started!!! unless she was a late register I wouldn’t have given the extension. My professors only gave extensions if you were a late add to the course. If you registered ahead of time then sorry you had enough time to read the syllabus, purchase the materials etc. I understand money is tight but in my online classes there is a listing of the students in the class.. I would have emailed one of my classmates to see if they could scan the case for me and I would have read it that way.
As a student who takes online classes.. No book was just unprepared
Based on the blogs you’ve written here about your students I probably would have taken her approach. I get that you were understanding about not having the book yet in this scenario, but based on other things I have read I, too, would have tried to show my diligence long before asking for the extension.
Eh, I think you were kind of mean to not just offer the extension, but I like being mean so I get it.
I can’t stand passive agressive behavior. I wouldn’t have offered either. If she wanted/needed anything she should speak up and ask for it. ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT!!!!! Seems like being an instructor means you have to help raise other people’s kids.
She probably didn’t even think to ask or even know asking for an extension was an option. That’s the impression I got in reading the exchange.
I agree with onefromphilly. We have not because we ask not. The worst you could have said was NO and that is no worse than her not having the book. I pay for my son’s college but I leave it up to him to pay for his books. And best believe, come Hell or high water, that dude finds a way to get his assignments completed on time until he can work for and/or ask his grandparents for the money to purchase his books.
You could have just told her she could turn it in once she receives her book. She may have felt nervous about asking for an extension on the first assignment; nothing wrong with that.
A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. The entitlement of some of your students is appalling, to say the least. And where is the resourcefulness, I would have sent a mass email to all the folks in the class asking for some assistance. I could go on, but I won’t.
The only way she gets a pass is if this is her first time taking an online class or the textbook was out at the campus bookstore. Other than that, she should have just asked for the extension from the beginning and quit the back and forth. Also, she could have asked about the question and the case and attempted to start to working on the issue/analyzing. She also should have asked if there was anyone near her job, her home etc. that she could have made copies of the needed chapter or if someone could send the chapter to her as someone else suggested. As a person who takes a lot of her courses online I know that the first few days is usually the way the teacher detects no shows thru quizzes and assignment so making sure I have the basics covered – like having the book – is too important to not get the book as quickly as possible.
I wouldn’t have offered. You weren’t wrong. If it was me, and there wasn’t any way for me to do the assignment without the book, I would have just asked if I could turn it in after I received my book.