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Jemi, the reason we have this message board here is so students can encourage each other. We don't want students to work together on their assignments, of course, because that would be counterproductive. I'm going to edit out your phone number for security reasons.

Linda, why don't you want people to work together on their assignments? I think it would be a HUGE help to have a study buddy..however, I just have a plain cheap cell phone cause I am a poor MT so I can be of no help to Jemi...

We've found in the past that when students work together on the assignments directly, not just checking in for pep talks and commiseration, they tend to do worse overall.  I suspect a large part of that is that they ask each other questions rather than their instructor, and they don't know enough to know what they don't already know, if you know what I mean. ;)  They're more likely to perpetuate misunderstandings or talk each other into wrong answers that into the correct ones, in our experience.

Now, it's not at all a bad thing to have a study group that helps with motivation only, not assignments!  In fact, we used to have threads in the module forums where students would check in each week to say what they completed the week before and what they were working on next.  I'd love to see those again, because it was great for being that kind of motivation, and some students just do better when they're "accountable" in some way where others can see what they're doing.

People stopped participating in them so we haven't posted those threads in a long while, but if there's interest, we can certainly bring them back!  Any of you are welcome to start a weekly progress thread, or if there are enough requests, I will start them on Mondays for you.

-Glenda

HaHa.. I can see me leading someone down an impressive, perfectly logical trail that takes us straight to a horribly wrong answer... I guess its bad enough that I do it to myself..

I do miss having an idea of "how I'm doing" which I don't have because I don't know what anyone else is struggling with or how good they are doing in different parts of the course. 

Glenda,

I think I would be interested in one of those weekly check in threads! I think that is a wonderful idea! 

I think everyone learns and is motivated differently. For me, the deadlines are motivation enough. I don't think it necessarily helps to compare yourself to others, but again, maybe that's just me. Instructor feedback and grades let me know how I'm progressing.