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When students miss time from class, they usually depend on the
instructor to fill them in on what they missed. I wanted to create a way
to put the responsibility back on students to catch up on anything they missed
when absent. The idea I developed also encourages teamwork and the idea of
looking out for your peers, great for building an interdependent community of
learners. At the beginning of my courses, I ask students to identify a
“buddy” who will be responsible for picking up handouts, assignments and
other relevant information in case one of them misses a class. This buddy
system can be set up in groups of two or three. When handing out items or
setting due dates in the first couple of weeks, I say, “If your buddy is not
here, make sure you get the information for them.” I offer the same
reminder when discussing due dates for assignments, class outings, etc. The absent student is responsible for picking up information
from the attending buddy. When absentees come to me to ask what they
missed (or “Did I miss anything?”), I refer them back to their buddies.
I tell them to get information from their buddy first. Then, if they still have
questions, they can come back to me for clarification. This approach has worked wonderfully for me. Students
see that it is their responsibility to make sure that they catch up on missed
classes. I no longer have to hold onto extra copies of materials for
students who missed a previous class or make sure that they are delivered. I
don’t have to return to my office to get extra copies of information from a
previous session. Students are looking out for one another, developing
responsibility and interdependence in their effort. --Sue Davis, Continuing Education Dept, * * * * * The ON COURSE NEWSLETTER publishes innovative strategies for helping students become active, responsible learners. To subscribe to this bi-weekly (monthly in the summer) e-newsletter, click here and send the resulting e-mail. No need to type anything. Our computer will automatically add your return address to the list of subscribers. You're always in charge of your subscription, with a subscribe/unsubscribe link in every newsletter. Have a best practice to share? Click here and request our publication guidelines.
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