COURSE DEVELOPMENT PHASE
Things to consider while developing a course
- Articulate expectations for course work in listing and syllabus
- Schedule low-stakes assessments and provide substantive feedback to students as early as possible during the academic semester
- Implement grading practices that require diligence and engagement in the course
- Clarify expectations on attendance in lecture, precept, and lab
Please avoid
- Changing expectations or deadlines mid-semester
- Evaluation models that let students postpone active engagement (courses that allow dropping/missing some component of the course)
- Over-emphasis on high-stakes summative assessments
TEACHING SEMESTER
Things to consider during the teaching semester
- Specify in the course listing any work that will be assigned during midterm week and fall or spring break
- State policies on extensions and make-up exams on the syllabus and in advance to ensure consistency in-class
Please remember
- MIDTERMS does not equal FINALS: Rules governing final exams do not apply to midterms
- Students still have classes and assignments during midterm week
READING PERIOD & EXAM PERIOD
Things to consider during Reading Period and Exam Period
- What is Reading Period?
- Extended period when students complete final exercises and prepare for exams
- Notify ahead of time if any meetings, classes, activities, or presentations will take place during reading period
- What is Dean’s Date?
- Date that all written work is due and the last day of Reading Period.
- Any accommodations must be approved by the Office of Disability Services. Any extensions must be approved by the Residential College Director of Studies or Dean
- Final exercises must be due by Dean’s Date unless the exercise is a take-home exam or in-class exam
- What is a Take-Home Final Exam?
- An alternative to in-class exams where students choose when to take the exam within the prescribed window; take-home exams can be timed or untimed, but must take place after Dean’s Date and Before the take-home exam deadline (the Monday after Dean’s Date)
- Any accommodations must be approved by the Office of Disability Services. Any extensions must be approved by the Residential College Director of Studies or Dean
Clarify
- That students have to complete any take-home exam in a window of time preferably limited to 24-72 hours.
Please note
- Typically, take-home exams should take no more than 8 hours to complete. Exams or projects requiring more time should be labeled papers or final projects due on Dean’s Date.