I’m going to start a new category called “Don’t Do This”. Since I am a 100% distance student in my graduate program, I’m experiencing all sorts of frustration around the way classes are built and managed. This category will start collecting my thoughts (as a student) on things you should think about when designing classes so that your students don’t experience this frustration too.

My first Don’t Do This is: Don’t make an assignment due on Sunday, and then indicate that students must expect a 2-day delay for responses via emails or the message boards.

My current instructor does this. So my normal method of waiting till Saturday morning (since I work full-time) to really work on my project that is due on a Sunday morning won’t work for this class. If I have a question, I won’t get an answer in time to complete the lesson on time.

So, Don’t Do This!