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Students and Tests




On Thu, 5 Dec 1996, David Dockstader wrote:
On Thu, 05 Dec 96 07:44:16 EST Emilio O. Roxin said:
1. What is the purpose of the course? That students learn physics.

Maybe, on a larger scale, to prepare them for life in the real world, where
it is generally expected that work be done right and it be done on time.
My perception is that many of today's students would not agree with this
statement. The typical course syllabus does not contain any reference
to "work habits" as one of the expected outcomes of the course. One of the
paradigm shifts that has taken place in many locations is viewing the
student as a customer. As such, they are purchasing your time. You are
to deliver to them a certain amount of content as specified in the course
syllabus.

Obviously it is irrelevant that test be on a Monday or Wednesday.

Maybe part of the lesson for the student here is that the world does not
revolve around them. How many employers, if they call a meeting for three
on Monday, will be pleased with an employee who wants to show up at four
on Wednesday?
Many students today would consider themselves to be the employer. They
are the ones who are paying and you are the one being paid.

Before going back to teaching four years ago I spent 10 years as a
director of a 200 person technology development group for a major
corporation. Meetings were scheduled with great care. Every employee was
a respected member of the group and schedules were coordinated to
accomodate each person.
Some positions did maintain a specific schedule requirement. A computer
operator in one of the seven data centers within my domain was expected to
be on time and this was a measured part of his/her job performance.
In one location a particular third shift employee had been tardy (i.e.
arrived more than 1/2 hour late) 22 times in a six month period. This
person was placed on warning. When the behavior continued (21 tardies in
the next six month period) the person was terminated...
This person took us to court claiming that his cultural heritage did not
consider punctuality to be important. In the deposition, he stated that
even though he was told to be on time, he did not believe that this was a
"big" issue. His lawyer wanted us to accomodate his cultural and
behavioral differences. We eventually offered him a lump sum payment and
a position with "flex time".

Bruce Esser
Physics Teacher something witty
Marian High School should go here
Omaha NE
http://marian.creighton.edu