Vignette 10: Mme. Wagner's Dilemma

I think that this is another one of those situations where there is not just one correct answer. I think that when I am teaching and make a judgement call on what accommodations I would make for a student will depend on the circumstances. I think that each one will have to be looked at case by case and there will not be a blanket answer that covers everything. The only aspect that I would keep the same would be that each student should get the opportunity to have their situation looked at to see what can be done to help them. I think that since you get to know the students in your class throughout the year you get a feel for the work they do for you and you should be able to use your professional judgement. I understand that life happens and not everything goes according to plan. I know I would like to be cut some slack if I had something come up so the same courtesy should be extended to students in my class.

I am not sure what exactly the right decision is according to the situation that is described in the text. The best solution that I can think of for this case is to allow a rewrite. I think this way the student still gets a chance to show you what they really know. It would also give the student a bit of time to be able to study. If that did not work and it came down to it I think I would be okay basing the student's mark on their previous work. I am not sure how that is done though. Do you take an average on the work they have supplied already? Or do you make their mark out of less than 100%? If the exam is worth 20% do you figure out the student's mark out of 80% instead of 100%. Or do you take the last mark they had which shows the their latest achievement they have accomplished? What is the correct procedure for figuring out what to give them for a mark when extenuating circumstances do pop up? Do you use any of these methods at all? One aspect I do know is that no matter what method is used for figuring out a final mark, it should be backed up by some evidence you have. For me it would have to have some sort of logic and not just randomly assign a grade I think "fits" the student. I would need some proof to base my judgement on so that I felt comfortable saying that is the level of their understanding and achievement.