In my Introductory Microeconomics class, I take attendance via in-class exercises. The attendance will account for five percent of the overall grade. There is a reason for the attendance requirement. We want students to come to class. Many studies have shown that going to class will improve learning. In fact, we do not need research to arrive at such conclusion.
If students do not come to class, where do we expect teaching and learning to happen? I understand that some students will claim they will be learning by themselves -- at library, at home or at dorm. I do not believe that. Most students skipping classes would NOT use the equivalent amount of time to self-learn.
As I design them, in-class exercises have additional values. They supposedly help students review and hence sharpen their learning of the subject -- in addition to taking attendance.
Some students do not see the good intention of their teachers. They just come to get their attendance taken. Worse, some students are helping their friends to take attendance. They simply get an extra copy of in-class exercises, help their friends to fill in their names and student IDs.
This behavior is bothersome and should be punished. In fact, the donor and the recipient are accomplice. FAKING ATTENDANCE IS A CRIME!!
Students, please, if you are asked to help fake the attendance for your friend, please REFUSE. Refusal actually helps your friend to become a better person -- a responsible person. He/she is supposedly responsible for the action he/she chooses. Only through this training of responsibility at the early stage of life will he/she become a responsible person in the future.
If you want to help him/her, encourage him/her to come to class and be attentive in the lecture, and help him/her learn whenever he/she has questions.
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