Student Responsibilities

A philosophy of the basic fundamentals and common sense of being a responsible student.  These are issues that you the student must handle and take care of in order to say that you've done your job.  Any one of these items can severely undermine achieving your objectives and result in poor performance and a bad grade.  Any question about a grade or performance evaluation must begin here.

EXIT

Scroll down - or select:    CLASS   |   SUPPORT   |   ASSIGNMENTS   |   TESTS   |   AFFECTIVE   |   PROBLEMS   |   OATH


Class:           [ TOP ]

  • Assume that the first day of class is a full production workday, not mere orientation.
  • Attend every scheduled minute of every scheduled class.
  • Bring all materials required.
  • Bring other materials reasonably related to the task/topic.
  • Interrupt class beginning with unresolved questions/issues from previous class/study (show up early and take first opportunity).
  • Participate actively in all discussions (student must generate thinking to contribute).
  • Respond to lectures with input and questions (student must generate relevant and reflective contributions).
  • Announce every failure or limitation of comprehension.
  • Verify all instructions before leaving.
  • Verify understanding all material before leaving.
  • Write notes on virtually every point, issue, theme, argument or theory covered in class.
  • Supportive/Ancillary:            [ TOP ]
  • Adhere completely to every warning, suggestion or guideline of the course syllabus.
  • Exchange schedules, phone numbers and email with at least two other students in class
  • Obtain the teacher's email and write to introduce yourself.
  • Communicate at least bi-weekly with the teacher via email.
  • Read completely all assigned reading material.
  • Read topic-specific material before class covering that topic.
  • Review any suggested readings for potential value (don't ignore).
  • Prepare notes, documentation, outlines or other summaries from reading material
  • Write into notes a summary of class material immediately after class meeting.
  • Review all material from class in days following class meeting (while still fresh).
  • College courses (on the average) require 2 hours outside of class for every hour in class. Thus, a 3 credit course would require 6 hours of study and work outside of class each week. Better grades or insufficient background may require more.
  • It is rare to sufficiently cover a topic only through the assignments provided. Many topics demand additional practice or more realistic adoption where students immerse themselves more completely into the role or topic. Better than average grades may depend on such additional effort and work.
  • Assignments/etc.            [ TOP ]

    Before all tests:            [ TOP ]

  • Read all class notes.
  • Read all notes from reading and other sources.
  • Practice all relevant skills and procedures and verify mastery.
  • Review all content and material from every past class, assignment, lecture, etc. Be aware that virtually every written word in assigned material, every skill and task covered or experienced, every spoken word in class all naturally become "fair game" for test material.
  • Affective…            [ TOP ]

  • It is not ok to give up.  Beware that you don't talk yourself into believing that you've merely chosen an alternative.
  • It is not ok to sit idle and quiet because you are shy, timid or embarrassed.  You must take action and overcome such obstacles.
  • It is not ok to sit idle and ignore your problem(s) just 'cause you haven't reached the instructor.  Call again.  Write again. etc.
  • It is not ok to procrastinate.  This applies to seeking assistance just like getting work done.  Don't put it off.
  • It is not ok to allow frustrations and confusions - both of which are natural and expected - to cause bad decisions.  You must endure.
  • It is not ok to be cavalier or apathetic with these responsibilities.  No one is going to care for you.  It's all up to you.
  • It is not ok to focus too much on your grade.  It may sound old fashioned, but focus on learning and achieving.  The grade will come on its own.
  • It is not ok to be late 'cause you are nervous, shy, embarrassed or feel a particular way about the course.
  • It is not ok to stay away just 'cause you are late.  Show up anyway - even for the last 15 minutes if that's all you have.
  • It is not ok to leave early just 'cause the instructor might be late, detained, or even involved one-on-one with another student.
  • It is not ok to leave early 'cause the university has a "15 minute rule."  That's ridiculous.  How does this help you achieve?  Use the time; go to work.
  • It is not ok to try to shift or mitigate these responsibilities on any technicality.  It is not the instructor's responsibility for you to learn.  It's you and the goal.  Go after it until you achieve it.  Period.  The instructor, the university, etc., all have nothing to do with that direct, one-to-one process.
  • Just like the material itself, treat the university, the course, the classroom and even the instructor all as obstacles to which you must adapt, overcome and master in order to achieve and be successful.
  • In case of problems…            [ TOP ]

  • If confused, communicate with the teacher continually until confusion is resolved.
  • Prepare in advance specific questions or issues to be addressed.
  • Bring unresolved questions or issues to be addressed in class.
  • Seek solutions from other students in the class.
  • Seek solutions from other professionals/resources (library, community, Internet, etc.)
  • Share problems with teacher via email immediately.
  • _________________________________________________________

               [ TOP ]

    The Hippocratic Oath for Students from Hippocrates (c. 460-c. 370 B.C.), a Greek physician, is worth printing here:

    I swear . . . to hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood; when he is in need of money to share mine with him; to consider his family as my own brothers and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it, without fee or indenture.
     

    EXIT