I start teaching my summer course on Tuesday, and I have two sections of 25 students each.
I sent the students their first email about the course this past Tuesday, providing them with information on how to register for the online component of the course as well making them aware that they have two assignments due prior to the start of class on Tuesday.
Since then, I have sent two more reminder emails, and at this point 44 out of the 50 students have successfully registered for the course, and half of those students have completed both assignments.
When I saw those numbers just a few minutes ago, I felt the need to send one more reminder, which I did. I want the students to get off to a good start in this intensive Summer Business Institute program which they are enrolled in.
But I am guessing, based on past experience, that there will still be one or two students who for some reason do not get the assignments completed on time.
Of course, I would be thrilled to be proven wrong, but even if I am, I’m left wondering why some students wait until the last minute to complete such tasks, or even worse, don’t complete them at all.
Why do the majority of the students take care of things in a timely manner, while a tiny minority just put things off?
I should note that I am not preaching or judging. I was, and still am on occasion, just like these procrastinating students.
I know that once we get rolling in the course, all of the students (well at least the vast majority) will be up to speed and on top of their assignments. We are blessed to have smart, ambitious students at Villanova, but there are typically those few who push deadlines to the last minute.
But until the course gets started, I’ll keep checking those registration numbers to see if we hit 100%.
It’s almost as fascinating as checking my blog stats…
Good question!
But yes, I have been there too with other things. I know I shouldn’t but….
Its that million dollar question!
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Yes, I’m doing it right now. I’d rather be replying to comments in WordPress than getting ready for class tomorrow… 🙂
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LOL! Sounds like you are making a good use of your time. 😊
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I am quite good at putting things off…
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Well if you want to keep putting ti off for a few more moments, I will give you another excuse for delay! Jason’s 3rd part is coming. 🙂
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I don’t need an excuse… 🙂
Look forward to reading part 3…
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🙂 Well its posted, if you are still delaying! Or it might be a nice break for you if you have already started preparing for your class. Every 15 minutes you need a break, right? 😉
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He is the master of puns; I’m curious how he is planning to wrap things up tomorrow – perhaps a cow jumping over the moon? 🙂
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Indeed he is!
Haha! And the dish will run away with the spoon. 🙂
Well being that I have read the ending I will say this. I was laughing through the whole thing and then I came to the last line and…..yeah I may have ….smacked my head!.. LOL!
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You should be his agent…
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Hmmm….perhaps I should! 🙂
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Some people just have no drive and ambition, Jim. They think other people should do everything for them. I have work colleagues like this and, sadly, most of them are millennials for some reason. This is why I won’t mentor and only do training for high level staff. Our system is flawed and somehow people who should never go to Uni because they are not academics manage to get through and burden the professional world. Sorry, to be so critical but I find it so frustrating having to try and drag unwilling people through a work project.
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It’s hard to be motivated when you are doing something you have no interest in. But even then, if you have something that is required to be done, then you need to do it. If you don’t like it, then you need to start looking for something else to do.
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I don’t have much tolerance for lazy people. I have a bit of procrastination in me, but I also know that I’ll get things done of time, even if it means staying half the night to complete it. My dad was a hard worker, and I see that quality in my son, too. I believe, more often than not, it falls into the category of learned behavior. I had students who regularly couldn’t get things done on time, and sometimes it was like a switch came on, and suddenly it never happened again.
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I agree that it is a learned behavior; and I hope that the switch goes on quickly for my students; the class is only one-week long!
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Why? The psychology department may have the answer. I think the reason some put off doing tasks until the deadline and others don’t is because people are just different. Why they are different beats me. Offering a weak defence for the procrastinators 🙂
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I wish I knew as well so I would be better about not waiting until the last minute…
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Good question. They might be going through something though? I mean, I know everyone is going through something but perhaps, sometimes when we compare the students’ privileges then it all makes sense.
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I agree, you never know what’s going on, especially when everything is online. And I take it easy the first couple of days to give everyone a chance to get into the routine…
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Right, our classes here will start on August and I’m already preparing for adjustments as well. Is your school gonna go fully online?
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our school has not yet decided how classes will be deliver in the fall. I wish you the best with the new semester!
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Sorry my work is so late, Professor Borden, but my dog ate your email! Does that make you feel any better? 😂 If your academic conferencing software had a “like” button, we would lose you forever. Best of luck with your classes!
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I’ll let you go this time, Mr. Osborne, but you’ve been warned…
And thanks for the good wishes, I am sure there will be a post or two about my experiences teaching online…
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I look forward to your insights on this new experience!
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I am excited about it!
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Procrastination rarely pays dividends in life. Perhaps, a few times in History though I’d suggest it was more strategy than apathy to credit for victorious battles. I learned a great life lesson in 9th grade biology class when dapper Mr. Ralph – attired in 1976’s finest mustard turtleneck, chocolate corduroy sport coat and bleached white lab jacket – reminded me (in front of the class) that I’d missed a homework assignment. When I answered that I’d forgotten to complete it, he hinted that he may forget to give me a passing grade. He didn’t forget. That was the end of my days of adolescent procrastination. Also, he drove a wicked early 70s Volvo 1900 Sports car. Later, I’d go on to be a proud owner of many Volvo’s and Turtlenecks. I learned. Great reminder, Jim. 😊🙏
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I’m guessing the Mr. Ralph story could have turned out either way; either he drove you to succeed or to fail. I’m glad it turned out the way it did. The world needs more turtleneck wearing Volvo drivers…
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He was a prickly, sarcastic sob … to a 14 year-old version of me … but, I respect him because he did what he said he would do and I’m the better for it, both academically soon after and I believe much later in life.
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Have you had the chance to see him since you were in his class?
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No, I’ve never connected. I’m sure he’s long retired. Perhaps, I’ll start an online search. It only took me 53 years to find my father, so I’m pretty good at it … 🙂
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Let the stalking begin…
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😆
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more stats for you to monitor, a win! as for why the procrastinators, people of all ages are different, from the youngest child through adulthood, some have a hard time getting started when looking at all that is ahead of them, some delay doing new or challenging things, some are not self-motivated, some have had someone pick up the slack for them, some have been given breaks, and some………….? it is interesting, isn’t it?
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It is interesting, and I am sure you start to notice such difference with your kinders…
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absolutely, my little people just act it out by physically running away, saying ‘no!’ loudly, or pretending they don’t hear or understand. actually kind of the same techniques…
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Same idea – different methods…:)
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Dear Professor Borden,
Setting aside the high standards needed to matriculate at Villanova for just a minute….
College students will be college students.
Thank you,
Signed, A friend
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And teachers will be teachers… 🙂
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Good luck with that – you may have more success pushing water uphill, with a rake.
You’ve reminded me of my boss in my first job. It was a supernumerary post, while I underwent fast-track training. At my first assessment he asked if I found the work too easy, and whether I left everything to the last minute to make it more of a challenge. It sounds like you may have some like me 😉
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I sure hope so! I like the rake analogy… 🙂
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When I put things off until the last minute, my adrenaline gets going and I find that I finally have the energy to finish the project. Sometimes it improves my creativity. And it gets me off my ass and on my toes, so that I get other things accomplished also. It’s just the way some people tick, I think, and if that’s what works for us procrastinators, what the heck?
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I agree that many people seem to thrive on waiting until the last minute – the problem is when things come up that you hadn’t planned for, and you miss the deadline. Speaking from experience… 🙂
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True dat. That’s why procrastinators should be well skilled at coming up with excuses.
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Indeed we, I mean, they, are…
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Ah, the joys of procrastination. I took a page out of your book and did a lesson including famous examples of procrastination. You should see what Victor Hugo and Herman Melville did to counteract that problem! At least you are only sending emails.
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Do you have a link to the lesson you did? I might need to try whatever those guys did… 🙂
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I used Classkick and it’s for high school. You could try threats….😎
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I’m not an intimidating guy… 🙂
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Maybe they aren’t checking their mails (like me!). When you’re used to get spam-mails and so on, it is not always that you actually want to check your mail
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So do you and your friends tend to check your messaging apps to stay in touch?
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Oh yes we do, or should I say I do. some of my friends almost never checks their sms or snap. It’s different from person to person, but there are those who nearly never checks
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I guess there is no one app that everyone uses…
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Nope, sorry to say;)
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And we probably wouldn’t want such an app anyway…
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Nah..
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As someone who has a procrastination problem but is trying very hard to work on it, I think sometimes it’s just scary/anxiety inducing to do even simple tasks so maybe that’s why. I’m guessing this is a pretty anxiety inducing time for a lot of people. And some are probably just being lazy if I’m being honest haha.
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Hi Pooja. Thank you for sharing; it’s helpful to get the student perspective. It is a stressful time for many people, and I guess I need to factor that into how students are behaving.
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Sure! I just thought as an ex-procrastinator I needed to share my experience!
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I am still an occasional procrastinator…
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Hahah me too but I’m trying really hard not to be!
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It’s a good thing to work on, but I don’t think most of us would ever reach perfection…
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No I don’t think that’s possible
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I am a student who functions on two extremes. Either I’ll complete all my work way before time or I’ll delay my tasks to the last minute. I guess sometimes anxiety and laziness are at work to affect our working habits, but at the end of the day, it depends more on how interesting the work is and how much importance it holds in our courses. But I guess everyone works differently and might have other perspectives regarding the same!
Cheers! 🙂
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Thank you Bhagyashree, for your thoughtful comments. As I commented to Pooja, it is quite helpful to get the student perspective on this issue so that I can better manage such situations when they arise. My behavior is close to yours – some things I am able to get done right away, others I push off until the deadline. Have a good day!
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If these are teenagers I can understand as they have always had teachers and parents to remind them. But if they are adults I would not have sent more than one email.
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They are college age students, 18-22 years old. So probably more than one email was the way to go 🙂
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