Week ten: Last day of class

The last day of your PWR class will probably be a busy one, and you should plan for it carefully:

• Decide how you will provide closure to the work done during the ten weeks of the term: will you ask students to draw up a list of “major accomplishments” in their groups?  Offer a brief overview of how you understand their progress?

• Remind students of due dates for final essays (or portfolios, if you are using portfolio evaluation).

• Make arrangements to return student work directly: you may require that students provide you with a stamped, self-addressed envelope so you can mail their work to them, or you may schedule a few hours during which they can come to your office to pick up their work.  If they have emailed their work to you or posted it on CourseWork, you can return their work in the same manner. 

• You may wish to set aside time in one of your last classes for your students’ final online evaluation of your course.  Students must fill out these official University evaluation forms through Axess.  Although students may complete them on their own time, a higher percentage tend to complete the form if you ask them to do so during class.  Be sure you leave the room while students are filling out the form.  Note:  Once grades have been submitted, results of the final course evaluations will be available to you via Axess.  When you receive the completed evaluations, read them carefully and make notes about how they can help you plan for the next time you teach the course.  It might be helpful to write a reflective summary of these evaluations for reference in your annual review.

Do not leave final graded essays or portfolios in a box or other container near your office or in the PWR office; doing so disregards student privacy and violates PWR and University policy.