Because we are now being dumped on by (apparently) the remnants of TS Rick, I had to make other plans for lab (besides, it's turned kind of chilly. And I already have one student out with "hamthrax." I know, I know, getting cold doesn't MAKE you get sick, but I do think it can lower your immunity)

So I did a tree identification lab using herbarium sheets. I sat down during my lunch break and quickly made up a list of the "diagnostic" characteristics (e.g., whether the leaf edge is smooth or toothed, whether the buds are clustered at the branch tips or single...) that I look for to help identify trees when I need to. And I several specimens each of about a dozen trees common in our area.

And I wrote all the diagnostics up on the board, and told the students to figure them out for each species, plus draw an example leaf and branch. And I said, "You will want to be able to identify these from your notes, in the field."

By which, I really meant: "When we do the for-real tree sampling lab, I DO NOT want to have to be running over hill and dale to identify trees which you, as Conservation majors, should really already know at this point."

Well, apparently thanks to misinterpretation on a couple people's part, a rumor got going around the class that what I really meant was: "You are going to have a field quiz on this next time we're out in the field."

I realized that about midway through the lab when I was walking around answering people's questions. (No one asked me directly but I overheard references to "field test" and "there's going to be a quiz on this.")

And then I was met with one of those little ethical dilemmas professors face sometimes: Do I let them know that we are not, actually, going to have a field test on this (there simply isn't time)? Or do I allow them to labor under the mistaken assumption that they will be actually tested on it, like grade-type tested on it?

Well, I decided it was okay not to tell the whole truth in this case - if I had said, "Where on earth did you get the idea I was going to do a field exam on these? I just want you to KNOW these for the field sampling in a couple weeks." I would be willing to bet that at least a few people would stop putting in an effort there and then, and a few more might complain about being "tricked" into working harder.

So I just kept my mouth shut. If someone asks next class time, I'm going to go all innocent and say, "Field exam? Whatever gave you the idea that I was going to TEST you on these?"

Although, I admit, you can really only get away with something like that every couple of semesters because otherwise, word gets around.

FWIW, I never made any mention of an exam; I just told them that they would "want" to have the information later on, which in my mind does not equate to "you will be tested on this." But whatever. If it means I don't have to wear myself out running all over to identify trees people should know but don't in a couple weeks, it will have been worth it.