As an educator in higher education, have you ever considered failing a student but ultimately chose not to? What influenced your decision?
As an educator in higher education, have you ever considered failing a student but ultimately chose not to? What influenced your decision?
Yes, I have encountered situations where I considered failing a student but ultimately decided against it. In education, it’s important to remember that grades do not always reflect a student’s potential or effort. There can be various reasons for a student’s struggles, such as personal issues, learning disabilities, or external circumstances that impact their performance.
In certain cases, I felt that the student demonstrated a genuine willingness to learn and improve, and I wanted to provide them with the opportunity to succeed. I often opted for strategies like offering extra credit, additional support, or a chance to redo assignments to help them grasp the material better. Ultimately, my goal is to foster growth and understanding rather than just sticking to rigid grading criteria. It’s about balancing accountability with empathy and recognizing the broader context of each student’s situation.