lessons in temporality

I had a student who emailed all exasperated and annoyed about going to her section of my class at 4:00 today only to find the room empty. I explained that there is not a 4:00 section today or any day. Oh, bless their little hearts.

OMG moment!

I don't want this space to be about bitching, but I just received an email form a student asking for a reminder of the room location for the class he is enrolled in. Perhaps I should offer to swing by later and pick him up for class?

alternative grading systems

I'm trying a different grading system in a reading-intensive course I'm teaching this semester. I've adapted a sort of "step" model grading structure sometimes used in self-directed learning. Basically, I let the students choose the level of engagement they want to in terms of choosing the grade they will strive for. So, for example, students who wish to earn an "A" will have to, among other things, turn in reading notes every class period. (This assignment simply asks them to type a summary of that day's reading, quote a favorite/exciting/troubling passage or two, and provide optional commentary). Students wishing to earn Bs or Cs still have to turn some of these in, just not one every day. 50% of the class did not do it for the first reading assignment, essentially conceding during the second week that they do not wish to earn an A for this course. I did not expect that right at the beginning of the semester. There may be a lesson here. I hope I am patient enough to figure out what that lesson is.