About This Blog

Dare to Dissemble is my little online ranting place, where I air my thoughts about the ridiculous state of affairs at the University of Alberta--a formerly strong public institution with tons of potential being driven into the ground by inept governance and irresponsible government funding policies. Comments are welcome, but not expected. Like most blogs on the internet, this one languishes in obscurity and is read for the most part by its proprietor.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Giving Zeroes for No Work

The Lynden Dorval situation continues to show up in the news.  My own sentiments are firmly with the teacher in this case, but this post is more to do with the underlying educational theory that led to the no-zero policy.  If I understand it correctly, the reason for this policy is that failing to complete work should be treated as a behavioural failing rather than an academic one, so an academic sanction should not be applied.  I'm not sure I buy this argument, but what I am wondering is whether this sort of philosophy is followed at the university level.  Do people at U of A give students indefinite opportunities to complete assignments or take exams?
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 27, 2012 at 7:37 PM

    For me, if work is not done, or a question not answered, then the mark is Zero. Using a marking template, I use, and can later justify, the full range of marks from 0 to 100%.
    HOWEVER, I am aware of very popular (easy) profs who offered students "make-up" academic assignments after final exams that could be used to enhance their grade. So by that system, students could spread the work load and gain a special (unfair?) benefit.

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  2. ArrikJune 27, 2012 at 8:16 PM

    You hit the nail on the head. All of these extra opportunities that some (weak willed) educators dangle in front on non-performing students violate the basic concept of fairness. How are the extra chances fair to all the students who did what they were supposed to, when they were supposed to.

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  3. The Phantom SessionalJune 29, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    Assignment not done? Mark = 0. But...

    If a student does not complete an assignment, you have to ask why. Are they lazy? Did they forget? Almost always, you'll find out about some issue going on in their personal life. Getting a divorce. Struggling with drug addiction. Dealing with the death of a parent.

    In cases like these, I give them another chance, or make the final exam worth more.

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    Replies
    1. ArrikJune 29, 2012 at 5:58 PM

      Point taken, PS. I'm not a big believer in mandatory minimum sentences that leave no discretion to a judge to tailor the sanction to the defendant's situation, and I think there is room for some flexibility when dealing with students who are struggling with assignments or exams. On the other hand, my wife (a sessional instructor, BTW) would say: "How do you know some of the students who turned in the assignments and took the exams (but maybe did not do that well) were not struggling with equally challenging life situations? Should they miss out on the same deals just because they did not flame out quite so spectacularly?" Again, the concern is fairness: do you offer a special deal to some, but not to everyone?

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    2. The Phantom SessionalJuly 9, 2012 at 4:10 PM

      Yeah, it's a case of the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. I have to assume that the ones who actually complain to me are the ones who are the worst off.

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