Holding students accountable and monitoring progress

One of the biggest questions I see being talked about in the Flipped World is how to hold students accountable for their work and for watching the videos.

I use a "WSQ" chart to keep tabs on my students' progress and to hold them accountable for information.  Here are the last 3 weeks WSQ charts.

Right now, the majority of my students are on the same pace.  Students may work ahead on these charts as much as they want if the material is easy for them to master.  If students start to fall behind this pace, that does become a concern for me.

 As you can see, the WSQ chart tells students what is expected of them every day in class, which videos they need to watch (including the problems that need to be completed in the SSS packets should they choose not to/don't need to watch the videos). The Summary portion of the WSQ chart gives students the "Guided Summary" questions that should be answered and discussed in class the next day.

Every grey box has to be initialed by me by the end of the week.  Students either get a blue signature if the assignment is completed on time/pace, or a red signature if it is completed late.  At the end of the week, they get a "homework grade" based on the number of points they complete.

I have really liked how the WSQ charts have been working.  First of all, it keeps students focused on their "tasks" for the week and gives them goals to achieve.  Second, it keeps me AND them very organized, and I don't have to worry about students who were absent knowing exactly what they missed and exactly what is expected of them.  Third, it helps with at-home communication because parents can see exactly what their students need to do and what they actually got done because I sign off charts every day.

 One of my biggest concerns with using these charts was the amount of time it would take me to check homework every day.  It really doesn't take that long.  When students are doing their "5 minute WSQ", I can easily walk around and see who has the S and Q finished, all while they are talking about it.  Some days I will check a few certain problems in detail, other days I have the students self-assess and put "smiley faces" in the grey boxes that are complete to tell me what to sign off, and they have earned my trust enough to do that.  They know that if they tell me to sign something off and I don't actually check it, I can go back the next day and ask to see it... and if it isn't complete, they will be in big trouble.  Because it "doesn't matter when they get it done, as long as they get it done by the end of the week fully complete" there isn't as much pressure to just BS it.  There are still a few students who are so "trained" in "school" that they don't understand that yet, so they do struggle with it.  There are a few students who no matter what I ask to actually see their work because they have shown dishonest behavior in the past.

In addition to the WSQ charts, students take notes in their SSS packets (Here are the first few of the school year updated for 2012-2013, let me know if you would like to see other sample Units for Pre-Cal or Algebra 1).  These packets help students to follow along with the videos and gives the the guidance needed if they want to attempt the problems WITHOUT using the videos.  The problem sets for in class are included in the packets.

How do you hold students accountable for their work and monitor their progress in your flipped class? I  would love to hear your ideas and what is working in your class!