MAILING LISTS

I'm afraid there are some students for whom it doesn't matter what you do, they will remain disinterested.  For others, they are used to being able to do little in class and study the night before the exam and pass; maybe passing is all they are shooting for.  Still others think they can free ride on the efforts of the team.  For either of these latter two types of students, honest peer evaluations and mid-semester grade updates can shake them out of their misconception that they can pass with little or no in-class effort.  I've had several students turn it around when it becomes clear to them that they actually have to participate in team activities to get a decent grade for that portion of the class.  I also try to impress on everyone in the class how important it is to send that signal to their teammates that they are poor participants if they are.  The mid-semester evaluations (which I don't count toward the final grade) are the perfect time to send the signal, allowing students sufficient time to improve their performance.  Most improve, at least somewhat, in my experience.  

Molly Espey
Department of Applied Economics and Statistics
263 Barre Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Herb Coleman 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 6:36 PM
  Subject: How to handle disinterested students


  Usually, I can tell when students are not going to make it because they 
  stop coming to class. I have a couple of students in an Intro to Psych 
  class taught on a Sunday afternoon, that seem totally disinterested. 
  They don't seem to give much in the way of discussion to the group and 
  only help with the mechanics, (writing up or entering the teams 
  answers). Their iRATs are abysmal. We are ending our first unit so this 
  will also be our first peer reviews so I hope these things will take 
  care of themselves. I also plan to directly address the offenders. I was 
  just wondering if anyone has dealt with this before?


  -- 

  Herb Coleman,Ph.D
  Dir. Instructional Computing and Technology
  Adjunct Professor of Psychology 
  Austin Community College
  Highland Business Center
  5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
  Austin, TX 78752
  [log in to unmask]
  512-223-7746
  *************************************************
  “I, and every other professor on this campus, are 
  here to help you to find, take back, and keep your 
  righteous mind.” 

  ---Professor Melvin Tolson 
      from the motion picture "The Great Debaters"
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