There is something that has been bothering me about students learning in college. The question is, how much do I treat students like adults and how much do I treat them like children? I have been leaning towards treating them like adults. For example: do I require them to come to class? Right now, no. I think they are adults and should choose whether they come to class or not. Do I require them to do homework? No. Again, I recommend homework (and I actually let them count it for part of their grade if they so choose). So, I give students the ability to choose what to do.
In thinking about this, I think about my children. Do I let them choose to go to bed whenever they want? No, I give them a bed time. Do they get to choose what to eat? No, they would choose junk food. Do they get to choose to read and do their math? No again - it is required.
So, back to homework and attending class. I am very confident that if students do the homework and come to class and pay attention, they will learn more. Is it my position to make them do these things that I know are good for them? Should I make them eat their vegetables? Some faculty firmly believe in making students do things. I prefer to not force them to eat their veggies. Instead, I try to help them understand why veggies are good for them. At some point, these students are going to have to make their own choices. Perhaps they have already started by choosing their major.
But even their major programs MAKE them do things. I hear this all the time from students taking service level science courses. They say "why do I have to take science?" I have some good answers for why every should take science courses, but should they be forced? I really don't know the answer.
