At our school we do not offer extra credit as this becomes a conflick of interests to the other students. I have found in the past that the over achievers are the ones who wishes to do the extra credit assignment to only boost up their grades because they know that they are lacking in technical skill. I for one do not believe in this practice.
Glenn
Hi Nicole:
What you describe seems like a fair compromise: Students get to take a missed test but receive a penalty for the original absence. Extra credit will skew grades, but I know many institutions require or incorporate it into their classes.
Regards, Barry
We used to have very liberal extra credit where I taught and then it was eliminated across the board. I have to say that not worrying about extra credit (or bonus questions on an exam) has been great. If our students are absent for a test we give them an alternate test and there is a standard 10% deduction in points.
Hi Cindy:
I'm all for giving make-up or repeat tests to assist students perform better. And I'd agree that students will usually appreciate that act and will feel better about their performance.
But awarding credit for these activities is a different matter and care is needed to not offset the integrity of the grading system.
Regards, Barry
Hi Karen:
It sounds like this is bonus points for grade adjustment, as opposed to extra credit - doing something extra not required and getting credit for it while not doing required assisnments.
I think there's a subtle difference between bonus assignments and extra credit, primarily because with EC, substitution for required assignments are allowed.
Regards, Barry
I think awarding extra credit gives the student a better chance at feeling good about thier performance or making up what they may have bombed on earlier.
Extra credit is done in my class with a video that can only be watched in the school's LRC (Learning Resource Center). After watching Part 1 of a chocolate video, which is done in during class time, I inform the students that 5 points will be applied to their lowest test score, excluding their final, if they watch Part 2 of the video and write 2 paragraphs about how the video inspired them. I give them 3 days to watch the video and turn in their parargraphs.
This way even if a group of students watch the video, I have to write about their thoughts not just 2 paragraphs about what they learned they can all copy from one person.
Hi Mary:
I think you have developed a good system to motivate students to do more than is expected and a fair system of recognizing that effort.
Regards, Barry
I offer extra credit opportunity by means of an extra research paper, done outside of class time. Students cannot, however, do this if they have not completed the required research paper first. I also allow students who work at a quicker pace, to complete additional tasks during class time for extra credit. This seems to work, as I have not had feedback about the unfairness of the options.
Hi Gloria:
Many educators are strongly against the practice of awarding extra credit. When allowed, it usually represents a very small percentage of the students overall grade, and does not substitute for regular assignments required by all the students in the class.
Regards, Barry
I give extra credit to help students improve their daily grade (30% of total) This is for stu-
dents who were absent or tardy and missed a quiz or in-class assignment. I teach several study skills along the way and one is to read a text book quickly with comprehension. I motivate them
to use this technique with another text book by
giving them extra credit points to help pump up
their daily grade.They appreciate learning this
technique to help them study for finals. Results
of improved test scores have been fantastic.
Hi Keith:
It sounds like you have a solid grading system in placed that is matched against guided and supervised assignments. So, there's no need for extra credit. It appears the students are graded on the required assignments - as it should be.
Regards, Barry
In our arena of testing and grading students, it is very hard for us to give extra credit. We have grade books that are locked, meaning that the points for the graded labs are at a pre-valued setting. We can add and extra lab if needed for end of course. I do have student that ask me if they can do extra credit work. Some students would take advantage of it and others will not. To me it would not be a fair grading result. I state that they can perform a task but I can not award points outside what is governed by our grading system.
Hi Scott:
I describe what you do as bonus points, which may be semantics, but I think it's different than extra credit, since it's all required work and is the same for all students. Some would disagree with me, and I could appreciate their argument.
Regards, Barry
I give a quiz at the start of every class that goes over the previous lesson and reading materials, the quiz is a 5 question quiz worth 5 points. As those quzzies add up and if you take every quiz I will give you extra credit and will help in your final grade.
Hi Dr. A:
I'm all for providing assistance to students by giving them ideas, suggestions, or providing resources that will result in improving a poorer grade into a higher grade. I doubt that credit for work that subtitutes for ommission of required work is very helpful.
Regards, Barry
The overall idea is to change a minus grade to a plus grade. Extra credit is the opportunity to supplement the current grade, but should not be required in order to make a specific grade.
Hi Stephen:
Extra credit, as a substitute for required assignment, sounds like a poor grading system that may may allow some students to miss out learning essential or needed information required for the workplace.
Regards, Barry
Hi Damon:
I think most teachers would agree that only a small amount of the overall grade should come from extra credit.
Regards, Barry
Hi Cindy:
Many teachers would agree with you, even if time were not a factor. We should measure performance against objectives. Points and grades are secondary factors, but are needed to provide an objective grade for the insitutional academic record.
Regards, Barry
