Mop-up presentations

We have 197 students in the 3rd year. They all have to do a dissertation presentation. 55 of them had received an extension. Some submitted their slides, but didn’t show up. Luckily, quite a lot of them only had extensions of a few days, so they could still present in the original session. I didn't have to deal with 65 students who had to get another chance! I still had to keep track of so many it was a bit of work.

The first challenge was: figure out who had presented. I can see who has submitted their slides, but if these slides don't have a grade, that could either mean the student didn't present, or the member of staff just hasn't uploaded the grade yet. So then you have to ask 45 people to give you these details. Not as straightforward as one would hope.

Then I needed to find time for session. This has to be before the exam period, because you are not allowed to get in the way of the students’ exams. That meant: the Thursday and/or the Friday of the week after the presentations. Then I needed to find staff for it. These presentations have to be marked by two members of staff, so I can't just do it myself. And annoyingly, the lead-up second year module, which had its presentations in March, also did a mop-up session on these days. That had siphoned off a lot of staff. But I found two who had a two hour slot free each. 

In the end I had some 15 students. That fits in 4 hours. So I was sorted! Once more did I sort out paperwork. And on Thurdsday afternoon I headed for the main building for the first session. 

Two students showed up, one of them late. Not a great turnout! But they presented. And my colleague and I had plenty of time left to agree grades. As soon as I got to my computer I placed these marks where they should go. First day done!

The second day we had four students show up. Still not a brilliant turnout. But four more students who have now fully completed this assignment. And again; we could agree marks there and then, then as soon as I got to my desk I uploaded them.

I think there are now two students or so left with long extensions that I will have to deal with later. That is manageable! So now I can focus on the written dissertations…

Looks unrelated, but there were soft corals in one of the presentations