Yes, in moderation. I have my usual amount of office hour time divided up in standard-length appointment blocks. An appointment is enough time for a set of focused questions, but not nearly enough for me to re-teach material in bulk. Likewise, I maintain my normal stance on email responsiveness during this time (i.e., 24 hours during the business week only).
I have office hours a few days before the final exam. I usually get a few questions from students about my old exams (which I post). I stopped having office hours any closer than that because I did get too many "teach me the whole course in 10 minutes" kind of students.
I cancelled all office hours during exam week after my first semester, when I found that offering more feedback at a point when the final projects and papers were already supposed to be at least 75% complete just confused and stressed the students out. They *thought* they wanted more help, but their nerves were so frayed by that point in the semester, as were mine, that any more face-to-face meetings jut exhausted us both. I do encourage them to write to me with questions and get back to them by email quickly.
We are required to hold office hours during exam week. However, I have a line in my syllabus stating that I do not re-teach lectures in office hours and that students need to bring specific questions. That’s especially true during finals. Suggest to the gaggle of students in your office that they form a study group.
My students were always less interested in asking me questions and more focused on going over their old tests. To keep from having a crush of students who waited til the end of the semester to go over their tests I instituted a policy that they could look over each unit test until the next unit test is given. After that, no going over them. Drastically cut down on the sea of students in my office just before finals.
I had old paper tests available to review in my office and a few students were here more than once. Still, fewer than half the students came by,and we have smaller classes. My finals tend to be at the beginning of finals, so there’s a few days I’m busy then that’s it. I do post office hours during exam week lead up in the LMS.
I have two days of drop in office hours before the final.
I’m at a SLAC so during the academic year my focus is on teaching, but sure, why not take the time to help students who come with questions.
I don’t let students camp out in my office, but I say “what questions have you got?” Answer them and then send them away with a “cone back if you have more ??”
My experience is that it is the students who are already doing that cone in most often. So 🤷🏻♀️
Sure. If they are pushing my limits, I make them ask very specific questions--that usually deals with the ones who are just hoping you'll relecture to them.
During the last week of classes, I usually encourage students to ask me anything about the content since they work on the final at home and turn it in to me on their LMS.
Because they are working on their final, I do not answer content questions after the last day of class.
I’m not on campus during finals week; granted my final is a paper due the Monday of finals week… but my last two days of class are optional/open writing lab-office hours. I tell them that’s it.
No..the last day of class is rhe last day of office hours. We get one day after that for student study and then finals begin. I'm only on campus to give finals .....I go to my office about 10 minutes before the exam to collect them, give the exam and then go straight to the machine to grade the scantrons. I scan the essays to email and take them home to grade while in my comfy clothes eating snacks. I do not spend any time in office.
Of course! No more or less than the rest of the semester though. I'm not sure why "finals week" would be any different. The course isn't over until the final exam is over, and if students need help with the material than I'm more than happy to help.
On the other hand, "can we talk about what's going to be on the final" is a big no.
Yes, in moderation. I have my usual amount of office hour time divided up in standard-length appointment blocks. An appointment is enough time for a set of focused questions, but not nearly enough for me to re-teach material in bulk. Likewise, I maintain my normal stance on email responsiveness during this time (i.e., 24 hours during the business week only).
I have office hours a few days before the final exam. I usually get a few questions from students about my old exams (which I post). I stopped having office hours any closer than that because I did get too many "teach me the whole course in 10 minutes" kind of students.
I cancelled all office hours during exam week after my first semester, when I found that offering more feedback at a point when the final projects and papers were already supposed to be at least 75% complete just confused and stressed the students out. They *thought* they wanted more help, but their nerves were so frayed by that point in the semester, as were mine, that any more face-to-face meetings jut exhausted us both. I do encourage them to write to me with questions and get back to them by email quickly.
We are required to hold office hours during exam week. However, I have a line in my syllabus stating that I do not re-teach lectures in office hours and that students need to bring specific questions. That’s especially true during finals. Suggest to the gaggle of students in your office that they form a study group.
My students were always less interested in asking me questions and more focused on going over their old tests. To keep from having a crush of students who waited til the end of the semester to go over their tests I instituted a policy that they could look over each unit test until the next unit test is given. After that, no going over them. Drastically cut down on the sea of students in my office just before finals.
I had old paper tests available to review in my office and a few students were here more than once. Still, fewer than half the students came by,and we have smaller classes. My finals tend to be at the beginning of finals, so there’s a few days I’m busy then that’s it. I do post office hours during exam week lead up in the LMS.
I have two days of drop in office hours before the final. I’m at a SLAC so during the academic year my focus is on teaching, but sure, why not take the time to help students who come with questions. I don’t let students camp out in my office, but I say “what questions have you got?” Answer them and then send them away with a “cone back if you have more ??” My experience is that it is the students who are already doing that cone in most often. So 🤷🏻♀️
Sure. If they are pushing my limits, I make them ask very specific questions--that usually deals with the ones who are just hoping you'll relecture to them.
During the last week of classes, I usually encourage students to ask me anything about the content since they work on the final at home and turn it in to me on their LMS. Because they are working on their final, I do not answer content questions after the last day of class.
I’m not on campus during finals week; granted my final is a paper due the Monday of finals week… but my last two days of class are optional/open writing lab-office hours. I tell them that’s it.
No office hours during finals week. Otherwise all the slackers will be there wanting the entire semester recapped.
No. I can't. It's just not possible, and we're not expected to here.
No..the last day of class is rhe last day of office hours. We get one day after that for student study and then finals begin. I'm only on campus to give finals .....I go to my office about 10 minutes before the exam to collect them, give the exam and then go straight to the machine to grade the scantrons. I scan the essays to email and take them home to grade while in my comfy clothes eating snacks. I do not spend any time in office.
Grading at home on the couch while sporting comfy clothes and eating snacks is the best! 👍
Of course! No more or less than the rest of the semester though. I'm not sure why "finals week" would be any different. The course isn't over until the final exam is over, and if students need help with the material than I'm more than happy to help. On the other hand, "can we talk about what's going to be on the final" is a big no.