Extra Credit semi-related subjects
I recently gave my students a totally extra credit assignment to design and to build a "fox-hole radio".
It was more of a fun assignment. There was no punishment for not completing the extra credit.
What happend was really interesting to me. I have a small class; but, two of my students made this a family project. They got their sons and daughters involved in the research and the building of the radio. Both people brought their radios in and the rest of the class participated in trying to make them work. It turned into a fun team building exercise; not only for the students, but for their families too. Personally, I thought that was cool.
Oh, the way I set it up was credit for the design and credit for the build.
Based on my reading of this course, was I wrong to assign this? I used the results for borderline cases - I wanted to see their desire. Instead, I saw family and our student body involvement.
Although not directly related to our subject, it did apply. Again, the idea was to show innovative thinking and making it apply.
Did I do wrong with this assignment? I think getting the family involved with their "significant others" participating in their class was worth it alone.
thanks,
jay
Valonda,
You bet. I too like the whole family involvement. I think each institution and instructioon has to decide what role EC plays in their class. I like the extra effort, just not the giving grades for it.
Barry Westling
I think the concept was very cool and the fact that the students took it literally and invited family to get involved showed that they are able to take a subject add critical thinking to it and come up with what they did and there is not harm or shame in that. I would be proud of any student who took something as to that anc create what they did. I do believe that when dealing with ec you do have to be careful because you do not want to promote ec as a norm because students come to rely on that instead of their own capabilities. Thanks for sharing your post.
Jay,
Each institution and instructor needs to decide where and what place EC plays a role in the learning process. I think any activity that promotes learning is worthwhile. It's the giving of credit that can pose some difficulty. Your idea was interesting.
Barry Westling
