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05.04.04

upon the completion of grading

Tonight is the Grading of the Portfolios. I always give them the option of enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope if they want theirs back, since most of my online students never come to campus. Why is it that the good ones always want their stuff back? I want to keep it! I'm saving some of their review comments here to cheer me up later.

First, though, is the winner of the unofficial contest for Best Portfolio Cover (name removed to protect privacy):

"I have two online classes this semester, and they couldn't have been more different from each other. One was interactive and provided feedback and instruction all semester, and one was strictly reading and testing with little-to-no interaction with the teacher... My other online class was a complete and utter waste of time. So I guess I have a 50/50 chance of getting an online class that I enjoy as much as this one."
"The writing assignments that I worked on during this past semester have enabled me to think outside the box. When an instructor challenges me to use that ability I tend to develop respect for them. Some of the reading assignments that you assigned bored me to death at the time. After having the discussion sessions I finally realized your purpose for giving us those particular reading assignments. If you had given us something easy and fun to read we would have never seen the actual meaning. [But I thought they were easy and fun to read!] ... At this time I do not have any suggestions for you. I think you did an excellent job of teaching us this semester."
"This course has helped me to remember all the things I must have forgotten years ago. I had forgotten how to transform a thought into a story. Now, when I sit down to write a piece, I am looking at more than punctuation and grammar. I am looking at the meaning of what I am writing. It is likely that I have actually learned more about how to establish a story line and how to keep the attention of my audience."
"I've been told that Composition II is even more challenging, but I feel I can do well because of the experience I've had in this composition class."

Comments

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

This made me think that I'd love to take a composition class. And then I thought..... maybe I could take yours! Online!! (I'm being serious here... but presumably this is totally impossible for people not registered with your academic institution etc etc)