Awarding extra credit
What role should extra credit have in final grades?
It should allow the student to pad or enhance their grade if they are on the cusp of two grades, say from an 88% final grade to a 90% final grade. It should also serve as a buffer if they do not do so well on a test of have a late or missed assignment due to life complications.
In my experience, the students who ask for extra credit are usually the ones who haven't completed the required coursework, and they are afraid they may not pass the course. I usually award extra credit only for a blood donation during our school's annual blood drive (or bringing proof that they attempted to donate but couldn't due to health reasons), or a can of food during our canned food drive during the holidays.
Extra credit should have a limited role in final grades, it should be used as a tool on quizzes and exams to find information that can be covered within the course, or that students may feel is important to the course.
Extra credit should be giving with only if students complete other assignments in a timely manner.
Stephen,
I clarify all grading possibilities at the beginning of the course, verbally, and in the syllabus. For me, EC is just not an option. But in your case, A good way to address this situation might be to give EC only for midterm or quizzes. In this way, the final grade will be comprised of only work completed prior to the final exam (no EC to bolster a grade).
Barry Westling
In most courses extra credit is not acceptable.
Unfortunately this is the case for me. When given the opportunity to gain extra points for special projects, etc. Most students do not participate unless it is in the form of in-class participation. These particular students then expect extra credit to replace failing grades. How do I address this?
Nick,
This makes sense and is a rational approach, especially if only a few points are available.
Barry Westling
I agree, I hand out extra credit to students that are within little points of the next grade bracket. I do make it very clear that extra credit is only given on special circumstances.
I will generally only allow extra credit to be used for an exam and not on projects or quizzes. I think it makes it a little more valuable/meaningful to the students because the EXAM is the showcase for what the students have both learned and retained.
I agree extra credit must not compensate for missing assignments. Instead it should reward those who are going above and beyond in order to excell in the class.
I do not offer extra credit on final exams. I will offer a few points on projects, if they student added extra material, but that Is all.
Louise,
In some courses this approach is probably very effective.
Barry Westling
Brandi,
I usually build in some "adjustment points" into components that contribute to the final grade. Most often this is like dropping the lowest quiz score, and giving an additional optional essay question of the midterm and final.
Barry Westling
The only extra credit I give is for assignments that I know will enhance the understanding of the information.
In my opinion, extra credit should never be the deciding factor in whether or not a student passes a course. I usually only give two opportunities for extra credit. I play a Jeopardy review game with my students in preparation for tests and the winning team receives 5pts. extra credit for a quiz, not the exam itself. If I discover a vague question on a test that most of the students are having problems with, I will offer an extra credit point if they get the question correct but not count it against them if they get the question incorrect. By not offering a large amount of extra credit, the students know that they must study and complete all their work to pass the class because there is not enough extra credit to "bail them out" at the end of the term.
Lisa,
Yes, in a skills-oriented class, extra practice can be invaluable.
Barry Westling
If possible, extra credit should target areas where the students need more practice. It should address a weakness in the students understanding. That is difficult to implement in large classes, but in smaller, skills based classes it can be quite effective.
Inevitably, I get a question on the first day of class, "Will there be any extra credit available?" and I have to remind my students that the course hasn't even started yet -- why are they focusing on extra credit?
I generally give one extra credit assignment at the end of the term worth anywhere from 1-3 points on their final grade. This can help my borderline students move from a C- to a C or even C+ in some cases. But under no circumstances do I give out extra credit because someone failed to do the required work during the semester.
