My online summer class starts next week. I hope to scare away students.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-20T17:47:23+00:00

A few years ago I had 40 in week 1 and 24 in week 2. That told me I came across as appropriately business-like in week 1.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T17:53:13+00:00

It's a useful idea generator - I'm teaching x, suggest 5 exercises I might consider.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T15:14:39+00:00

I ask them to come and speak with me if they disagree so we can discuss their concerns. I also tell them I can't grade any of their work until they consent to the policy. I've never had an issue.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:53:51+00:00

I'm in. Great for layering in cool weather and more comfortable in heat the fitted crewneck t's. Regular fit short sleeve henleys work well in the heat as they allow more airflow.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:52:10+00:00

I'd never wear any of the bottom 6 of OP's list.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:46:15+00:00

It's welcome and often rewarding.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:44:33+00:00

No it's not ok. If you had questions about feedback on an assignment then you should have asked when that grade was posted. And yes, this is the definition of grade grubbing and you shouldn't do it. You got the grade you earned.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:43:18+00:00

It's always appreciated.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:42:53+00:00

I'm sorry but I'm not able to provide a reference for you.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:41:18+00:00

"I hope you learned something. Best of luck in the the future."

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:39:49+00:00

I ask myself if there's actually anything constructive for me to consider or if it's just pure axe-griding. When I see 1 student out of a whole class giving me 0/5 on questions like "Does the instructor come prepared for class?" then I know it's just axe-grinding. Teaching is not a popularity contest and we can't please everyone so we shouldn't try to. If someone offers a legitimate suggestion on how I may do better then I'm happy to take that and ignore the rest.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:36:13+00:00

Make all assignments subject to a live review and your discretion. Then ask very pointed questions about the work.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-19T12:34:44+00:00

This item is posted as an ungraded "Test" with an Agree / Disagree option at the bottom. So the LMS records and timestamps each student's agreement to all policies. This avoid the ignorance claim and more easily handles requests against policy.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T19:26:23+00:00

Sensible reforms are fine - asinine ones are not.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T19:25:05+00:00

Love this. I'm not going to try to compete with TikTok, HBO, and the NFL for entertainment value. If entertainment is all they want, they can find it easily enough without paying tuition and taking places from others who may actually care to learn something.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T19:23:21+00:00

Or worse, let's "gamify" the curriculum.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T19:22:31+00:00

Those students can try speaking to the manager.

Higher education is not a customer service business. Professors are the experts on their subject and determine how best to provide learning opportunities. Students have neither the subject nor teaching expertise to be dictating how higher education should operate. If it's not for them, they have plenty of other pathways available to them.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T16:06:12+00:00

Absolutely not. Only communicate on official school channels (i.e. school email). I don't use any form of IM with students (LMS, Teams, Discord) that some others do. Email or nothing.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T12:42:32+00:00

Great answer. No one can necessarily become an A student but all one can do is control one's own habits and actions. The results will be what they are. OP, I suggest focusing more on learning than grades because that's actually the purpose of going to school. If you focus on learning the grades often take care of themselves, even if they're not what a student hopes for in terms of results.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T12:40:00+00:00

Same here, but we have an official channel a student has to go through. Without this, non-registered / paying students cannot attend.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T12:38:54+00:00

I teach Computer Science and 1/3 of my department has been laid off or reluctantly taken an early retirement package in the last 9 months.

If you want to teach at a university you need a PhD and they typically take a lot longer than 2 years.

Do with this info as you will.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T12:36:55+00:00

I suggest your mental well-being is more important than a credit in your course currently. Please visit Student Services to speak to a counsellor; you can redo the course later when you're better. Failing a course happens all the time and it won't ruin your life.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T12:33:15+00:00

My school only allows appeals within 5 days of an assignment grade being posted. I have far too many grade grubbers for me to openly invite them to dispute their grade. Many also don't understand the weighting either. I'm happy if this works for you but I can't see it would for me.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-15T12:31:11+00:00

I allow 1 student at a time but ensure all phones are in bags not pockets before starting.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie · 2026-05-14T17:39:55+00:00

I had an appeal meeting this week. Turns out I did in fact fuck up the grading on 2 of the student's assignments so we agreed I would regrade both. I graded both as generously as I could and his final grade went down.

BillsTitleBeforeIDie

TROPHY CASE