I am a computer instructor, is it OK to fail half of my class because they dont comply on my software project?

Answer 1

Yes you can, but I think it would be more productive to figure out what went wrong and work on the source of the problem. Perhaps your assignment was too difficult or not explained properly. People will learn more and be more encouraged to learn if they feel they are accomplishing something, instead of being punished for not understanding.

So as to not discourage the students who did understand and followed instructions, perhaps some extra credit?

Answer 2

Do your students even make an effort to comply with the software project?

It's not OK to fail half your class, something is wrong when your class is unable to meet with the demands of your criteria. As a teacher you should try and promote your students to gain interest in the subject as well as understand the ins and outs of the project.

I also used to instruct, those students who make no effort nor have no understanding, never show up and show massive lack of interest in the subject I would inform them that they are on the verge of failing and will have to re-take the course the next semester.

I would push for students to gain more interest in the subject, give personalized discussions with each student one by one either during or after class hours to discuss what is the problem, where is the flaw, what they don't understand and what they need to be able to comply with the project on their own terms.

By discussing with your students these issues, you will be able to tell which student doesn't care at all about passing or failing, which are the ones you should inform are about to fail if they don't get their acts together. The students that show interest and show that they do not lack the ability to learn and understand the works of the subject you should dedicate time to focusing on the weakest points in the criteria.

I don't want to tell you how to teach, but if you don't help your students understand, you've failed just as much as they have.

I know from experience what it's like.

Answer 3

While I'm not a teacher myself, several of my family members are. From what I know of their teaching philosophy, I think they would take a second look at the assignment, and consider the possibility that it may not have been clear, or the students weren't as prepared as you thought. The high percentage of them that didn't complete it properly suggests to me that there could be a problem with one of those things. Failing half the class is, to some degree, showing a failure in the assignment or the instructor. The objective is to assign work that causes the students to learn. Apparently a lot of them didn't.

PS - If you ask them to tell you what they think went wrong, maybe it would help you decide what to do. They could write it down anonymously and if they're young, you might give them a choice of reason A or B.

Answer 4

No!

Just as in every other field of expertise, their are lots of directions/areas in programming. Just to name a few:

* Database programming
* User Interface development
* Game programming
* Low level development (example: hardware drivers)
* Web development
* AI
* ...

You cannot expect you students to comply on a single project! Select a few 'areas' and make some assignments / projects within those. Let you students pick the ones they like. Let them team up and work on it.

Now the problem with this approach is: "It requires a skilled instructor!" Do you fail?

Answer 5

I've taught many courses all having some sort of project. Not once did I have to fail anyone because of the project alone.

Reading your question though, and understanding that you're referring to failing half of the class, perhaps there's something wrong with your instructions or teaching methods.

Are you being so strict that they must do it your way and if not, they're wrong? That's just not right.

Answer 6

That"s very high !
A failure rate of 50% should certainly sound the alarm, with bells and lights going off that "something" is wrong somewhere.
You ---, classmembers , and other pertinent information will most likely come under examination, to discover a root cause,for this.
Talk with the students,as a class -- take some time with them --- get some feed-back.
Then sit back , in some deep thoughts , and perhaps make a few adjustments.
I wish you well in this -- Good Luck.

Answer 7

Sounds like maybe you should reassign a new project.

"Don't comply on my software project" is somewhat of a vague description of you situation. Perhaps including the age of the students, the name of software, and the project requirements would help me better answer this question. Seems like the students are lacking something...

Answer 8

Third yr. HS student here. I opine that you have the right to fail half of your class because they didn't comply with your project. I mean, look at the odds, I trust that you guided them in making the project, gave techniques, and had set a deadline. For Christ's sake, they're students, and one way to push themselves through your course is by completing most of the requirements you have set. It's obligatory.

Answer 9

I think you have to determine if the project was up to the time constraints and capabilities of the students. Why wouldn't they comply? Sometimes the wording of the question or request can be ambiguous to the students. You have to understand why half of them didn't comply.

Answer 10

If you are an instructor who has more then 50% of your pupils failing your goals and standards then you are a very poor instructor. In my 27 years in the Navy I only failed 1 person and permenantly grounded them from flight. 1 out of thousands.