I was hoping that it was a "Hello Kitty" breathalyser. . .rather than just a test for halitosis.

sumi, that's totally what I thought.

Hivemind question:

As a lab instructor, how much should I chase my lab students for their final project?

Thefinal project is basically just to sew something within a list of criteria, and they are to let me know if they need help. In october, they were supposed to tell me what their project was, but did not. I sent an e-mail reminder that I would be in the shop this week if they wanted help with their projects (due at the end of the semester-- in a few days). One student has been in contact with me about getting into the shop/turning in the project. One has not. I will admit I have been a bit lax about the reminders-- as in the past two weeks I have worked over 120 on the show alone and I can't quite figure out what portion of the lab grade is based on the project. (the syllabus says that the lab grade is 50 %, that 50 % based 40% on attendance, 20% on skills mastery, 20 % on initiative, and 20 % on attitude)-- I think the lab project is the 20 % of skills mastery????

Anyhoo, I really don't feel like chasing this girl to have her turn in her project, because I think it is going to mean me sitting with her until she completes it, but I don't want to be unfair to her.

I'd email the other student one more time and say. Just a reminder, I haven't heard from you and your project is due X date. Failure to turn in your project will result in a ZERO for 20% of your grade.

Thanks XOXOX teacher Sophia.

I don't think not chasing is not fair. They're not 12, right?

However, msbelle's reminder strikes a good balance of being nice and not being a nanny.

I agree with msbelle. These are adults. They need to take responsibility for their own work.

Sophia, I think you're good. Send one more e-mail reminder if you want to, but otherwise I'd let it go. She's either got it under control and doesn't need help, or she doesn't but is choosing not to do anything about it. Her choice. If your percentages (and my math) are correct, this is only worth, what, 10% of the grade? Let it go.

That's a very reasonable response.

I made the mistake of looking at the weather forecast. Baaad idea. I'd better hope my shovel is indeed in my closet. I discovered last night that it wasn't in my trunk any longer. If it is truly awol, I need to wander by home despot tonight.

it has to be in your closet, how could you lose a shovel?

Thanks guys-- although I think those percentages are just the actual professor being a moron. That is, last year you got a lab grade and a class grade. As part of your class grade, you could either do a paper (graded by the professor) or a lab project (graded by the lab instructor). This year he is making them do both, but he didn't change the percentages to reflect this, so I am taking it as part of the skills area. I have no idea what the other instructors are thinking (and I doubt they are even thinking about it, because two of them are undergraduates and the prof doesn't ask for a backup of our grade). Anyway, I imagine the prof wanted the lab project to count rather more than he seems to imply in the syllabus.

Of course, the prof also didn't run the syllabus by me before giving it to them, so, really-- his problem. Actually, I didn't get a syllabus at all, I just read one of my students....