Motivation

It's important to recognise students' efforts when they work hard. They should be praised, encouraged and this encouragement will be their reward. Future rewards include examination success (in January or June) and of course attendance at an excellent university. So when a student FINALLY, after several days answers ONE question do we scold (tell off) or praise? Do we see the (little) effort he has put into his work and be thankful for it or do we see the lack of other effort and be sad, be stern - and tell him off?

The age old problem. Reward the under-achievers so they think they are doing well (in the hope that they do do well) or criticise those same people for achieving too little. We could have a bright star who sadly has underperformed these last few days, posting little and any telling off might put that dimmed fire, out. Then there's the person who manages a few words a week.

Should we be pleased that he has at last posted something - even if it is only a repetition of what has gone before? Do we reward his small progress in the hope that if he continues he may one day pass the exam - or do we give him a reality check and tell him that is still not nearly good enough?

People do not react very well when they are told the truth - what is better - to let them dream or to try and help them now so the disaster that awaits, can be avoided?

One problem is that a weak student, if you indulge him/her may hold the others back. Can we leave that person behind? If we help him the others will lose out - especially as the student may later drop the subject! But...if we don't then s/he will definitely fall behind. It's almost like good students are held in a cage, the bars being bars of indolence or ignorance of the others.

Of course there are good students but then there are others where a whole week goes by and they write...nothing.

What seems to be happening is that previously excellent students may begin to slow down and others for personal reasons are now down to just 2 posts in a week. Even others, perhaps for personal reasons, a falling out with someone, have sadly, gone off the boil posting a number of meaningless blogs instead of the dynamic, resourceful entries we came to know and admire. Look at the list - how many still to do?


Others post private thoughts in a public arena and seem happy with a series of empty blog entries.

In some ways this half term (study week) is a crucial point in your academic year. Yes, we've only been going a few weeks but already there are those who are doing 'well', those who wander along, sort of 'OK', and those who have fallen a long way behind - probably never to catch up. With small classes this should not happen so it is probable that the very slow people, those who refuse to do the homework will hold others back.

That seems a pity - and could and should be avoided. I am not concerned about those I hardly teach and anyway, are self-sufficient

It's the others, who came here with such dreams and now look as though such dreams will not be realised. (Two posts in 12 days?)

Those are the people who will be angry when the January results come out, even angrier when the June results arrive. Those who clearly could do well, but for lack of effort, don't.

I see sadness and anguish coming - mixed with scenes of great happiness.