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Re: [Phys-l] Federally mandated homework

I stand corrected! In my defence, I did say "I may be wrong", and apparently I was!





I quote the provided link:



"Credit Hour: Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than --

(1) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or



(2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours."





Though I would add the regulation stated is actually a definition and only applies to places that are accepting Title IV money and certain other programs. Also, the regulation says nothing about homework per se, i.e. no requirement for formalized homework assignments; as I would interpret it. Though I am no lawyer. There is just the expectation that a normal student will need to spend 2-hours outside of class for every credit hour in the course.



Naturally, this is quite open to very broad interpretation and we have seen no fall-out from this so far on my campus. But maybe that shoe is dropping soon at my institution. Policing this will essentially be a nightmare. And the devil will be in the details of enforcement. It may amount to no more than trying to provide some sort reasonable common definition of a credit hour for comparison purposes. (A reasonable goal in my mind.) OR, it could mean something very very draconian; I hope the DOE has enough money in its budget to hire all the necessary policeman and that Universities have enough money to hire all the necessary people to provide the necessary paperwork . . .



_________________________



Joel Rauber, Ph.D

Professor and Head of Physics

Department of Physics

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 57007

Joel.Rauber@sdstate.edu

605.688.5428 (w)

605.688.5878 (fax)





-----Original Message-----

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-

bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of LaMontagne, Bob

Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 1:16 PM

To: Forum for Physics Educators

Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Federally mandated homework



Please follow the link I provided if you doubt the Federal Regulation

exists.



http://nasad.arts-

accredit.org/index.jsp?page=Advisory_Repeated_Courses-Credit_Hours



You can also Google the acronym NASAD for further information. I'm not

quite sure what you don't believe. Mike's piece was his opinion. This

refers to regulation.



Bob at PC



-----Original Message-----

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-

bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Rauber, Joel

Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 2:09 PM

To: Forum for Physics Educators

Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Federally mandated homework



I may be wrong but I don't believe a word of it.



There exists a rule-of-thumb which I hear from many sources which

suggests

that 2-hours of work out-side of class (not necessarily assigned

homework) is

appropriate for every classroom hour. Our student success office

tells

students this; but I wish they would just as loudly say that results

will differ;

some students in some classes need to spend 3 or 4 hours working on

the

material at home for every hour of class. I know I did something

closer to a

4:1 ratio for my introductory physics class. (Of course, I wasn't

going to settle

for anything less than an A and I had an old-school professor; who

was quite

good I might add.)



If one looks in the archives, you'll a couple good posts from Mike

Edminston

on the subject.



Joel







_________________________



Joel Rauber, Ph.D

Professor and Head of Physics

Department of Physics

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD 57007

Joel.Rauber@sdstate.edu

605.688.5428 (w)

605.688.5878 (fax)



-----Original Message-----

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-

bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of LaMontagne, Bob

Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 12:11 PM

To: Forum for Physics Educators

Subject: [Phys-l] Federally mandated homework



During our faculty senate meeting yesterday, the Academic Vice

President announced that he would be forming a committee to monitor

homework in classes. There appears to be a Federal regulation that

is

being imposed that demands of any public or private college that

receives Federal funds that every class taught have 2 hours of

assigned homework for each class hour.



Many of you probably already work to that rule - but it was a

shocker

for us. Our department will have no problem complying because we

use

electronic homework and monitor the students homework effort. We

also

get estimates from the publisher as to how long each assigned

problem

will take. But it still smacks of "Big Brother".



http://nasad.arts-

accredit.org/index.jsp?page=Advisory_Repeated_Courses-Credit_Hours



Bob at PC

_______________________________________________

Forum for Physics Educators

Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu

https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

_______________________________________________

Forum for Physics Educators

Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu

https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

_______________________________________________

Forum for Physics Educators

Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu

https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l