Tip: Wrapping up the Spring Semester
A few "to do" and "to think about" items for the last couple weeks of the semester.
It’s May! Final exams and graduation are right around the corner, which means it’s the frantic rush of wrapping up final class meetings, finishing grades, and sending our students off for the summer, if not out into the world.
Some of the more challenging issues tend to pop up in the last few weeks - students who are in danger of not passing your course or are hoping to get more points on assignments or exams - as well as more usual end-of-term activities. The suggestions below provide a few ideas for making the end of the semester as smooth as possible.
Offering failing students a “clean slate”…
In courses with fewer high-stakes assignments, a single early misstep can significantly damage a student's grade, leading to a lack of motivation to continue with the course. I’ve previously shared thoughts about offering alternative ways to demonstrate mastery and multiple lower-stakes assignments. These approaches, however, may not help students who have failed major assignments or who do not submit enough work to pass the course. To address this, instructors can consider offering a "clean slate" to students, where students on track to fail are given a set of simplified assignments to complete, enabling them to earn a C. More about the “clean slate” approach here.
Negotiating grade review requests…
To handle student requests for additional points on tests or assignments, it's essential to have a clearly defined policy that requires critical thinking and evidence to justify the requested score: students must: “construct an argument for any modifications in your score based on the specifics of your work compared to the instructions and the criteria for grading.” More on how to develop a policy here.
Keeping notes on current students…
As the semester comes to an end, it's helpful to keep notes on students for future requests for recommendations. In the past, it was easier to maintain records in the form of hard copies of final papers or spreadsheets of grades. As many of us keep grades and feedback to students only within our LMS, it's harder to access information from past semesters. One method of keeping notes is to create a spreadsheet with the student's name, class taken, semester, final grade, notes about attendance and participation, notes about their writing, and any concerns. This information is helpful when writing letters of recommendation. More about notes here.
Customizing end-of-semester surveys…
I don’t find the standard student evaluations to be very helpful, and much prefer to create custom surveys. At the end of each semester, I send out my survey and explain that this is for me to gather feedback from students and improve the course for future students. You can find a Google Forms template and more about how I use the surveys here.
Planning final class meetings…
Incorporate reflection, peer recognition, and fun activities in the final class meetings. Consider holding one-on-one conferences, as they offer an opportunity to touch base with each student and have a positive impact on the semester's end. More on how to approach the final class meetings here.
As we look ahead to the summer, I would love to hear from you about what resources would be most helpful - respond to the poll below, or leave a comment. Thank you!
