The Extra Credit Fiasco
I've used extra credit to motivate students to study at home. I give them study questions to help them find specific information that I will emphasize at the next class period. One quarter I decided to give students extra credit for completing the study questions. I quickly discovered that the students who would complete the homework without being coaxed were those that got the extra credit points and those I wanted to motivate did not comeplete the homework regardless of the extra points.I never offered extra credit for homework again.
James,
Wow, what you experienced is an example of just one of the reasons many instructors avoid giving EC. And many institutions have policies not allowing EC to be given. I'm with you, I choose not to give it, and my students know not to ask.
Barry Westling
Extra credit was a nightmare for me and I made it a policy not to do it again. I used it on a quiz when the grades were not very good. I had the students research the correct answers and give the page references. This led to students coming unprepared for quizzes.
NEVER EVER AGAIN!
Carolyn,
I'm with you! I say "if it's important, it should be included and a part of the regular assignments".
Barry Westling
I strongly feel that instructors should stay away from the extra credit merry go round. If the course is structured so the students can maximize and/or optimize their learning experience, then extra credit is not needed. Let's develop the course correctly the first time-quality in, quality out.
Susan,
For exams, a good exam review, a review worksheet, sample questions, for me, these help diminish test anxiety as there are few surprises. Well prepared students should find no surprised an exams. Even as we're presenting the information, we can check for understanding and retention of information.
Barry Westling
I find that if students know that they will have a small extra credit opportunity on their tests, it releives a little bit of their test anxiety. I do not give them enough points to radically change their grade, just enough to make them less nervous.
Hi Tim,
Yeah, usually students want or need their grade boosted for some reason (may be a legitimate reason). But in most cases there is a substitution of poor or failed required work for EC asssignments that only alter a grade. This does little for student learning and I feel that student learning is what I'm there for. Grades are just a required process that's mandated by the administration.
Barry Westling
