Senior Seminar Participation Policy

Participation:

1. A participant is one who shares with others in an activity. By this definition, we as students must not only present material and viewpoints, but we must also listen attentively as our fellow team members present material, ask questions, and offer opinions.
2. Participation also assumes that each student will arrive at class prepared to either deliver material to the rest of the group, or has completed any assignments and responsibilities for the class and is prepared to engage in the class discussion.
3. Students must be able to work cooperatively in small groups and with the class as a whole.
4. Although it is important that, as seniors, we must be capable of presenting our viewpoints, exchanging information effectively, and engaging in group discussions, participation should not be limited solely to in-class activities.
5. A seminar by its nature assumes the activity participation and contribution of all seminar participants. Seminar participants are expected to be present for most class sessions.

Specific contributions:

As participants in a seminar, students are expected to provide input to class discussion. Accordingly, each student will be expected to be a discussion leader for a minimum of five events over the course of the semester. This will take the form of preparing an outline of the topic to be covered, and being the facilitator for class discussion. While each class participant is responsible for taking their own notes, the discussion facilitator may prepare a summary of notes/techniques from the discussion in a format suitable to share with the group, if he or she deems it appropriate. The content of class discussions will provide topics for inclusion in the comprehensive exam.

Daily participation forms:

As a self-assessment of their participation in class, each student will complete a Class Participation Form for each class period attended. Sister Barbara will collect these and assess each student’s participation. As an addendum, students will note their discussion leadership events on the back of the form, so that Sister Barbara can keep track of the number of times each student has led the discussion.

Daily participation rubric:

The criteria below can be used as a basis for assigning a daily participation score.

10	Student provided exemplary input for the benefit of the class.
9	Student was an active participant in class discussion.
8	Student offered minimal input to class discussion, and/or was late or left early.
7	Student was present that day but did not contribute to class discussion, or student missed a significant portion of the class.
6	Student was in class, but disruptive.

Absences:

1. As the Senior Seminar group is preparing to take up positions in the working world, it is reasonable to borrow from established business policies the concept of anticipated and planned absences. For example, some participants of this Seminar are members of an athletic team that is sponsored by Stritch. Others are working at jobs that may require travel. Some members of the class may find it necessary to miss a class for a job interview. Such anticipated absences can be planned for, and students can make up the missed participation in one of the following ways:

1. Tutoring or working one-on-one with another member of the class to provide some extra help on a topic. For example, math help that would cover one or two of the study guide questions with an emphasis on different approaches to solve the problem and the logical reasoning used. The intended goal is to share an understanding of how the solution came about versus simply giving another student the answer. Other forms of tutoring could include computer questions or essay writing. A photocopy of the covered material would suffice to document what was covered. Sr. Barbara would be free to ask questions to ensure that the student really understands what was presented. This serves the group by using all of our resources to ensure success. Ideally, this could be arranged in advance of a planned for absence.
2. Leading a group discussion on a chapter in the text.
3. Arranging an out-of-class study session prior to the comprehensive exam or benchmarks.
4. Arranging for and bringing in an outside speaker.

2. There is another category of absence for which the student cannot plan ahead, but may make up through the same steps outlined above. Illness, family emergency, winter weather, and so forth may create an urgent situation that prevents a student from attending class. In such an instance, it will become the student’s personal responsibility to ensure that the team does not lose the value of that member’s participation.