In an accelerated program, there is not much time for extra credit, I don't see the benefit of extra credit.
Extra credit should only be given when a student finishes up regular course work early and wants to do additional tasks. It should have a low value in proportion to the normal course work.
Hi Virginia:
I think just about everyone likes to get extra points and while some students at lower end of the scale may be helped alongf by extra credit it may not help them if they haven't mastered the basic skills taught in the class.
Regards, Barry
I don't allow extra credit. I did when I began teaching. However, I found out, as one supervisor informed me, that students will spend more time on the extra credit than they do on the required work.
Hi Rick:
Grading and learning are different. I feel if the students learn, then the grading system is less important. However, we work in educational institutions where some objective measure of that learning has to exist. So, grdeing systems are relative. I might suggest using a grading rubric which provides an objective method to assign points and grades.
Regards, Barry
The top students in my class take great interest in extra credit. The ones who are struggling are the ones that need the encouragement to participate. After taking this course I will brainstorm with other intstructures the value of extra credit.
Okay, thanks for the input....Rick
Hi Jeanina:
A small amount is ok. Fairness to other students and avoidance of skewing the class grades are pitfalls that accompany awarding extra credit. So, we just have to be careful.
Regards, Barry
Hi Rebecca:
I think a small amount extra credit is ok. It's just that some teachers give so much it dilutes the true grade and can be unfair to other students in the class who've earned all the points.
Regards, Barry
I fell that extra credit should only be given on a case by case bases. student should have completed a certain amount of regular class work in order to be able to acheive extra credit.
I like to offer extra credit. However after taking the ED 105course I will revise my extra credit policy. I like the suggestion of offering a few extra credit points if the student answers the question " what did you learn that I did not test you on?" the idea is to set the student show off their knowledge.
Rebecca
Hi Rick:
In this case, you are giving the students a "bonus", and although some migh argue that it's just semantics, I think there is a difference between bonuses and extra credit. If my students learn the required the necessary information, the grading and points are less important to me.
Regards, Barry
Hi Carol:
I believe there is certain information that simply must be mastered. Awarding extra credit to offset not learning essential information would be unfair to the students who have learned the material, and what does that say about the student who can't perform or recall the substituted information?
Regards, Barry
In one of my classes the mid-term written exam is usually a wake up call for some. I usually give the opportunity to do a one page paper that relates to the next section of study in the course. I give a maximum of 25 points to be applied towards that test grade for well done papers.
At all schools that I have worked for, extra credit is not an option. I am glad, because it takes the subjectivity out of the assessment.
I really don't believe in extra credit. If you work hard, this should not be necessary. The instructor should notice if students are absorbig the material and tutor the students before the need for extra credit arrives
I think that extra credit has it's place. I give a bonus question with every exam, except for mid terms and finals. If they get the answer right i give anywhere from 5 points to 15 depending on the question. the question can come from any part of the course that has been completed. Here is the catch the points are added into the grade for the exam they are taking that day and they can only be given if the student was in class. If a student misses or is late and the exam is already out then they do not get any bonus question, that way it also helps with attendance issues. How, well we all know that students like extra credit, well they have to be in class and on time for any extra credit.
Hi Mark:
Some teachers will allow bonus points on quizzes and exams. Personnaly, extra credit at the expense of not doing a regular assignment given to the whole class appears a bit unfair. I don't think much grade weight should be given to extra credit. There's a balance between a grade earned vs. a lesson learned. Is the grade more important than the required learning? That's the balance each instructor has to justify.
Regards, Barry
Extra credit gives students an opportunity to perhaps "rescue" themselves from dire grade straits. It should not, however be used as a means of allowing students to pass who have not chosen to participate in the assigned curriculum.
Hi Rodney:
Many teachers will agree with you and many will have an opposing view. Extra credit is a very controversial topic and I can't resolve it in this forum. However, on the side of not allowing it, I can say that issues of fairness, skewing of grades, and possession of needed content are among the aurgument against awarding extra credit.
Regards, Barry
