Discussion 1

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M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M

TO: All Classes: Undergraduate, Graduate, Dissertations, Other…

FROM: K. Edward Scott, EdD: Instructor, Teacher, Co-Learner, Other…

SUBJ: Gradebook Policy: Gradebook Issues, and Gradebook Other…

DATE: Open—From This Day, 19 August 2023 until Other…

CONTENT: Three (3) Pages, Other…

Gradebook Policy (All Classes);

1) General Cogitations for Your Perusal:

As of Fall 2023, and for the edification of students and the instructor, the following

Gradebook Policy will be implemented and require an “Acceptance Email”1: 1) all

items that are not submitted within the timeline, or approved delay, will receive a

zero (0) and until the assignment is submitted, that zero will remain; 2) it is the

responsibility of the student, with support from the instructor, that the

gradebook must be reviewed weekly by the student to ensure all zeroes are

updated and replaced with a grade for items submitted. In other words, the

gradebook will be checked on a regular basis by the instructor, but if an item

contains a zero due to non-submissions or late items, the student must maintain

diligence in keeping a close eye on the gradebook to ensure the instructor has

graded and replaced the zero with a non-zero-grade; 3) all zeroes that are present

as of the final Friday of the Semester, at 5:00PM, must have been addressed by

the student and instructor for resolution. *** This policy will be revised in Fall 2023

on an on-going basis as needed, but tested in Fall 2023, to its final form, as

needed. Why? Because as I have reviewed grades, and zeroes, and changes, and

issues with student-and-self illnesses, and family… it remains elusive that these

items (zeroes) are sometimes, not purposefully or other, unaccounted for until it is

too late for students to remedy the missing assignments. The gradebook is a vital

component of the SLOs (Student Learning Outcomes) for the student, and this

policy is an attempt to create importance in the mind of the student; not simply that

they have a gradebook, but they ARE THE RESPONSIBLE party in this tool,

alongside and in close coordination with their instructor. Finally, I want students to

know by this “Policy” that the gradebook is not the be-all-end-all to their learning

objectives, but that the gradebook is an indicator that informs them of progress,

reminders, and a tool to provide them guidance for what they should be completing

throughout the semester.

It has been my ‘policy’ early in the semester, via repeated emails, for students to care

for their gradebook as if they “owned” the gradebook; in other words, this is not an

1 See Canvas, Discussion #1

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assumed ‘ownership’, but, rather, an actual ‘ownership.’ Thus, this policy is

intended to return attention to reviewing the gradebook and emphasis of ownership

in this vital tool that supports their learning objectives. The Gradebook is a highly

important indicator of learning activities, and supports and requires critical

thinking!

2) Specific Cogitations for Your Perusal:

Therefore, here is a mighty suggestion(s) for your success in the Gradebook:

1. If you submit items for grading, and your instructor falls asleep at the wheel (God

help me refrain from doing this), do not hesitate to use that old, fading technology,

Email, and remind him that you are looking for a grade on Item x-384.3KUB

(Please note the specific item you are inquiring about, because it helps your

instructor get to the item quickly and evaluate/grade the item quickly, thx);

2. If you need time for an assignment, send me an email and you shall have the time.

Life is not a cookie-cutter experience, and sometimes, TO ALL OF US as The

Word has told us, we encounter things that are very much like a hole in the boat

and we are taking on water. Get it? So, if you need more time, you shall have

it…BUT NOW HEAR THIS!!! If you need the time, until that item is submitted, a

ZERO is a place holder in the gradebook until you can complete the assignment

and … ????? WHAT????? …yep, submit it!

3. It is imperative that all materials should be submitted and uploaded to the gradebook

by the last day of the semester. This day is noted on the syllabus and in Canvas,

and is the last Friday of the semester at NLT 5:00PM, or 1700 Hours for those

veterans or who are currently service members. Why? Because your instructor has

to submit grades the following Tuesday, NLT 5:00PM, or 1700 Hours for those

veterans or who are currently service members. Why? Because when the Friday

of the last day arrives, your instructor goes into micro-focused-mode to grade all

items that have been submitted, such as finals, research papers, items that have

finally been caught up, and so forth. This requires detailed and specific attention

to those things needed for the final compilation/calculation for Grades---which

COME FROM THE GRADEBOOK!!! (Apologies for shouting so quietly!).

4. In reference to #3 above, if you should encounter a Rampaging Porcupine (RP) that

gets between you and your materials so that you cannot submit your last items for

the semester, and you need that few weeks to catch them up and submit…and the

RP has, at last, calmed down the ‘Quilleries”, there is an option provided, IF YOU

NEED IT: it has a nomenclature we call, The *Grade. This *Grade allows you two

additional weeks to catch-up any missed work, and therefore, bring conclusion to

your semester assignments. Please note this: if we…that’s correct, WE…if we get

to the final Friday of the semester, I will have sent out several emails to remind

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both of us about some zeroes in the gradebook if they are present, and if there is

no response until late Tuesday night, I will have submitted Final Grades and the

process to catch up to modify a D to a B or similar, … that WOO…Window of

Opportunity, is like a cloud in the Heavens passing by and soon gone (Psalm 19).

Not making ‘lite’ of this situation, because there is a plethora of sincere things

than can happen to us and brings delay to any situation; however, we…yes, WE…

we must be diligent with the gradebook as it IS THE LINCHPIN of final grades.

Amen? Amen!

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I understand the time, dedication, Faith, and endurance needed

to complete a semester of assignments. And when you throw-in the mix—life,

family, Faith, community service, military service, and all that we have upon our

shoulders—it CAN and often does, task us to times when we are tired, frustrated,

in Prayer from sunup to sundown…and we remember that we have an assignment

due in two days. When this happens, as it has happened to me for more years

than I can or desire to remember, sometimes we want to find a quiet place and

close our eyes and rest. And, you know, that’s okay when we are able to do that.

And after that short respite, we get up, we open the assignment, or we care for

family, or we go to the grocery store…you know, stuff that has to get done…and

we move forward…yet again. Let me tell you a story, a true one, not to boast or

intend to say “I did it”, rather to say that it was more than I who was needed to

finish the task.

After many years of teaching, with classes at Auburn, and professional development,

and conferences, and just learning, learning, learning…classes, workshops, and

travel to conferences, I was at the point of finding that corner to rest and not coming

out! But, Auburn University, my intended educational goal after high school,

returned my application and informed me that I needed to work on my study skills

because my high school transcript looked as if my GPA was rounded up so I could

graduate (not the words they used, but my GPA was abysmal!!!). SO, I was drafted

into the Army, redrafted into the Navy, and through those subsequent years, I

earned a Masters Degree and other credits for work. Then, Auburn University and

AUM, announced that they were going to offer a Doctorate in Education (EdD) in

Leadership and Technology. I mentioned it to my wife and she said, “You have

talked for some time about a doctorate. Now’s your chance!” So, I applied and I

thought my high school GPA would haunt me, once again! By the Grace of God, I

was accepted and for the next five years, I had, again, classes, papers, worked

two-full time jobs, family, two dogs, bills, sicknesses, and…what we all face! I didn’t

complete the program because of me, but from support of family, my dissertation

chair, and most of all…the Strength and Endurance from Christ!!! What am I

saying? That I KNOW how hard this learning thing is; that the gradebook is our

friend most of the time, but it can remind us of “not more work to do!?” I am here

to help you, to give back what has been given to me. You need me? I’m here…