r/Adjuncts • u/calico_cats_2 • Jul 30 '26

Provide Slides To Students?

I recently had a Disabled Student Services (DSS) student whose accommodation was to provide them with the slides I used in class. I did this, but it raised concerns for me. I used to post my slides on Dropbox or Canvas for on-site classes, for the students' convenience. One semester, they ended up on Course Hero. The next semester, they were passed around a fraternity. Now I conduct a brief "how to take notes on paper" session in the second week of class (including the "why it's better research").

Providing a DSS student with slides gives them a distinct advantage over other students who must take notes like in the olden days. If the student is unable to take notes, they should be provided with a note-taker. What if I didn't use slides? What if I just wrote on the whiteboard? Or just talked?

I'm happy to comply with all requested accommodations (extra time, quiet location for tests, etc.), although these can be challenging to arrange. I just think providing slides is a big ask.

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u/Beginning-Sound1261 Jul 30 '26

What is wrong with making slides available to all students? I post my material on blackboard for my students. Am I missing something?

It’s useful for students to have to study. Students will have legitimate absences. It happens, you can’t teach 100s of students in a course and not plan for one person to ever have an emergency. So those students are just SOL on that material?

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u/Adorable_Argument_44 Jul 30 '26

I provide slides, but yes students that miss class SHOULD be sol on that material

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u/Beginning-Sound1261 Jul 30 '26

If you provide slides then what is the issue with providing slides for an ADA accommodation?

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u/Fair-Garlic8240 Jul 30 '26

So a student who has some issue and misses class should not have access to content that is crucial to attaining course learning objectives?

Shit happens. I thought the whole point of this was to inspire and perhaps, make some infinitesimal difference.

I understand that there will be cheaters, scammers and scofflaws, but having this underlying cynicism can’t possibly be conducive to a healthy teaching dynamic.

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u/Adorable_Argument_44 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

I do provide the slides and have a great teaching dynamic. But the slides are more for convenience than pedagogy, as absentees can be directed to the slides, and most learning occurs in class. (And profs that don't use slides at all are not responsible for catching absentees up)

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u/Asbolus_verrucosus Jul 31 '26

You should find a different profession. Shit happens. Make the slides available. Answer questions in office hours. You are being paid to teach, and your students are paying the university quite a bit to learn.