Without getting a mid-term grade, how do you know how you’re doing so far?

You can answer that with a fair degree of accuracy by asking yourself:

  1. How’s my attendance and punctuality? Do I use the time clock? Do I arrive on time? Do I stay until the instructor dismisses the class?
  1. How’s my class participation and work ethics? Do I work when it’s time to work? Do I get involved in what the class is doing? If you’re surfing the web during work time or off somewhere else, you’re not participating. If you’re taking off before class is dismissed (#1), you’re not participating in the class. If you’re done with your own work, why not assist or observe someone else? You’ll probably help that person and also reinforce your own learning.

Concerning attendance, punctuality and work ethics, this manufacturing program requires of students exactly what the current industry requires. Could you be late, leave early, not work during work hoursand still have a job? Probably not. Of course for some, grades and job recommendations don’t matter too much, depending on one’s reasons for going to school, but for others those things are important.

Items 3& 4 below are basically the academic portion of your grade:

  1. How are my quiz scores? (I try to let you see them as soon as possible, usually the next school day after the quiz) In a classroom-lecture course, they along with any other assignments (including textbook and other assigned reading) make up 2/3 of your overall grade. In a lab course, quiz(es) would comprise no more than 25% of your overall course grade.
  1. How’s the overall quality of my work? In lab courses, that (together with any quizzes) makes up 1/2 of your overall grade. And it’s not simply a matter of the final product. As an instructor, I’m generally more concerned with the process—both the learning process and the machining processes—than I am with what students produce. This includes everything from job planning, programming, safety, set-up, machine operation, deburring parts, break-down and shop clean-up.

The specifics of course grading are all spelled out in the online syllabus, which links to this page. I trust you’ve read the “fine print,” but if not, please do so now.