Korean Job Discussion Forums

[legalquestions]

From what I understand, student centered teaching is all about empowering the students; putting them in charge of their own learning; the teacher is simply a facilitator (please correct me if I am wrong).

How does checking class attendance come into play here? After all, it's their dime, so to speak. Of course, I am happy to see them come to class and participate, but in my own 9+ years of university studies, I can't recall a single instance wherein the professor/instructor checked class attendance.

Here it is a waste of time (in my opinion), and creates needless paper work. They are adults, afterall. Empower them!

Your opinions, please.

[purple_buddha]

What you consider "needless paper work" is required record keeping in Korea and is used as evidence in cases where a grade may be disputed by one of your so-called "adults"; it's SOP, as far as I know, at all unis.

[Thiuda]

I agree with Purple Buddha; taking attendance is not needless paperwork. Taking attendance is a motivating factor for students to come to class, and is a component of a students final mark - participation (20%).

I understand your point about treating students as adults, but I fail to see how taking attendance belittles them. I see it as a way to reward students who come to class with extra points at the end of the semester, and, in view of the fact that I mostly teach courses that require participation in order for students to progress, I think this a fair and efficient way to do so.

On a final note, universities I have worked at had/have a policy whereby students that miss more than four classes fail the class. It goes without saying that this presupposes taking attendance. Also, university instructors should keep in mind that periodically departments are audited and that their records may be examined. At a university that I previously worked at, we were asked to provide all course materials we had used during the semester, our method of assigning grades, mid-term and final examinations, as well as attendance sheets.

[merkurix]

I can understand your point. But if you apply the policy of no attendance, worst case scenario could mean that you are going to get spotty attendance by many students who will only show up to take the midterm and the final and submit any and all homework via a proxy student. It's only fair that if you show up everyday to teach, they should show up everyday to learn. It's mutual respect and courtesy, it is the mature thing to do.

I make attendance 10 percent of their grade, where one unexcused absence will reduce their grade by one percent and more than 7 results in an automatic failure.

They know that attendance is their duty; therefore, coming to class daily is a no-brainer way to tack on an easy 10%.

[ajstew]

To take attendance or not to take it... I think it depends on a number of factors. 1) Do you have control of your class grading breakdown, or is attendance a forced part of the grade. If you don't have control and attendance is a part of the grade, then you should take it. 2) Are you teaching a conversation class or a class on literature or something that can just as easily be studied at home? If you are teaching a conversation class and you want all of your students to improve a little bit, then attendance should be taken, because even if a student doesn't do anything to contribute to class, he/she is bound to pick up some new words (hopefully). I do, however, agree that students should be responsible for their own learning and that in other classes besides conversation classes, attendance shouldn't be mandatory. 3) Lastly, is their a curve system where you need find ways to separate students? If there is, then taking attendance can help do that..

[HapKi]

Speaking of Conversation classes, I think of it not as a lecture class, but more of a workshop. Come to class- speak a lot- fluency will increase. They can't make up for lost time by doing extra homework, and just coming in for the Mid-term and Final defeats the purpose.

When I see students practicing English conversation OUTSIDE the classroom- Now THAT'S empowering!!

To answer your question- Yes, I do.

[soju pizza]

If you have a mixed-ability classroom, or one decided by "major" rather than by proficiency level, then attendance can play a valuable role in justifying giving an "A" or "B" grade to a "B or C" student who worked their ass off and came everyday, in comparison to the the guy(or gal) working arbeit who already speaks English and either sleeps in class or misses it (or text messages all day).

It's also a great way to learn their names.

It would be nice to give a grade based solely on test scores, but I teach mixed ability classes based on major area of study, and I really love it when the medical student who transferred in for the easy "A" in home economics gets a "C" because it's easier gets a "C" and Jong-ae the eager beaver gets "A+" even though they both speak at different levels.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Why bother? Just a bird course. I can't believe you people actually give them C's and such. Unless it's some sort of equivalent credit deal for people who can actually speak English as well as the foreign "professor". In most cases (or almost all cases), the class is about the equivalent to taking a bird Russian course where everyone gets an A for effort.

Professor Bozo likes to think otherwise though.

[ajstew]

[yingwenlaoshi]

[jinks]

I take attendance in my university English classes, we have to. I do it online via the university web site, I usually get a student up to call the roll. It does help to figure out who are the keeners at the end of the semester, but I don't get too stressed if the system is down and I can't record attendance with 100% accuracy. To be honest, the roll call does not help me learn students' names as the classes are large and my Korean sight reading skills are not so good; I need to be looking at the monitor as I call the roll, not at the students' faces.
As I said, I usually get a latecomer to call the roll, and instead of answering 'yeah', 'nei' or 'uh?' to their names I ask the students to call out a colour, frequency adverb, type of furniture, country or nationality (or whatever it is we have been studying).

[ella]

I think it's ridiculous. I refer to them as "kids" because I'm a good 20 years older than most of them, but they are adults. I'm not their mummy and daddy. I don't check to make sure they've brushed their teeth, either. Getting to class regularly and on time is their responsibility, not the instructor's. If they don't show up regularly they won't pass my exams. The ones who can pass my exams without being there (like students who've lived in London for two years but have to take a required beginning English course) can better spend their time elsewhere if that's their choice. I have no problem with that at all. And frankly if you don't want to show up for my class I'd rather you not be there and I'll happily teach the ones who show up and want to learn.

[contrarian]

I took attendance most of the time. I made it a point to learn how to say their names properly in Korean. They seemed to appreciate it.

I was pretty easy going about making exceptions and allowing excuses. I used the attendance to make tough decisions at my uni (both of them) thye marked on a curve and I would have to decide on giving my last A or a B+.

[simpleminds]

Naturally. Students need to have some semblemce of responsibility before going to the workforce, adult or not-so-adult. Just because they have some (even excellent) ability, that doesn't mean they can blow off the class. Besides, they can help out the weaker students.

As for records, it's best to keep them for at least two years after you finished that semester, in case there are situations mentioned in above posts.

[SeoulShakin]

I only ever had two professors take attendance when I was in University. One of them called out our names, and checked it off herself. The other had a class list printed out for every class, and just circulated it.... the students had to initial beside their name if they were present.