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[yatchie]

Okay, so this is my first time teaching online so I'm not exactly sure how I want to respond.  I'm teaching a five unit math class online and have set up homework and quizzes to be due twice a week.  As mentioned in the other thread, this morning, I sent out emails to students who were seriously lagging in the assignment due tonight.  I got a response from a student this afternoon saying she's been ill for the past two weeks (symptoms along the lines of bad cold/flu -- not hospitalized).  She would like an extension not only on the homework due tonight, but the one that was due last Thursday.

How would you respond?  I'm inclined to say no.  If this were an in-person class with online homework submission, I would still hold the student responsible for turning in homework on time and keeping up with the material.  Should this situation be treated any different?  (And for what it's worth, I did put into my syllabus something along the lines of "no extensions".)

[dept_geek]

I would say stick to your previously set up rules. Unless -- the student has a medical excuse that they couldn't use a computer. Because it's online, the excuse of "I didn't want to come to class/school/your office to avoid infecting anyone" no longer works.

This is a case where a pre-emptive phone call from a parent, partner, cousin, etc would have helped the student and would have been appreciated so you know the student hasn't fallen off the ends of the earth.

[bone_gal]

I probably wouldn't accept it, especially since the student hadn't bothered to contact you for two weeks and only replied to your email. Two weeks of nothing during a summer course? Not a good sign.  Also, you presumably set the course up for regular work submission since that's what it takes to be successful learning math, which this student clearly isn't. So one late assignment either way probably isn't going to help them much.

For situations like this, it's very important to have a clear late or missed work policy in your syllabus, and then you can stick to that unless you have a strong feeling that you want to give someone a break. I might do that if I knew it was a good student and I had reason to think they were telling the truth (and I always phrase it like, well I don't normally do this but...).

I guess on the other hand you could make a big deal out of accepting one assignment late, with the idea that you then look like a hero but the student is probably still going to tank the class.

[yatchie]

Thanks.  I replied and said no, unless her illness prevented her from using a computer as dept_geek suggested.  I checked her activity and she's only logged less than ten minutes since the beginning of the course.  Yikes!

[mathprofdk]

I checked her activity and she's only logged less than ten minutes since the beginning of the course.  Yikes!

Yikes, indeed!

As bone_gal mentioned, it's vitally important to have very clear communication guidelines about situations like these.  Students just aren't prepared for online classes with deadlines.  They think "online" means "self-paced and easy".

Incidentally, I'd probably call her on her log in time.  That is, if she even follows up.

[choirguy]

My online students never fail to be surprised when I say to them "I've checked the logs and . . . "  They don't think that mean old big brother choralguy has access to that information.  Stick to your policies unless there is medical documentation that the student can't use the computer.  It sounds like snowflake is trying to play you.  Don't let her pull the wool over your eyes.