Cynthia,
Right. It seems EC in health or medical programs is largely impractical, diue to said potential consequences.
Barry Westling
Carmella,
For my health and medical classes, I feel there is certain amount of material and knolwedge that has to be learned. Students who have done poorly with some of the material to the degree that EC would benefit them have probably missed too much essential information. EC could only artifically inflate their grade, and in some cases produce poorly trained, even potentially unsafe workers. For me, I just choose not to award EC. Each has to decide what works best for them and their students.
Barry Westling
I totally agree. Thankfully we do not give extra credit assignments. Their grade is what it is. We cannot spoon feed these adults. We can be a potentional problem for the student once they get out there into the working world. They need to be accountable for their grades.
I don't believe in extra credit. In the health care field of radiography (x-ray), patients don't get "extra credit" The students must learn and practice the correct methods in caring for each patient - it is a life and death situation and students must be prepared.
In my previous teaching positions, I have been not given extra credit very frequently. While teaching health care courses, some of my co instructors gave extra credit for things like volunteering to have blood drawn. I have only given extra credit for things that I knew were related to our particular class and would benefit the student to complete.
Tavia,
I am not opposed to extra assignments that assist students learn. I can always assign more. It's the giving of points for that work that my personal belief is to not award EC points. I only speak for myself and my classes in this regard.
Barry Westling
Carlos,
I have said in the past, "the student is the one who earned the grade, I just record it". You have articulated a similar sentiment. Part of the foundation of most things is fairness. To the students that truely earn their grades, we have to be fair to them just as much as those who have earned them.
Barry Westling
I give extra credit but only for doing extra work that they have the choise of doing. It works well to make students work harder and regret not completeting the extra work but points are a designated amount and only allowed toward tests. ( I give 5 pts if they write out the key terms in the book) writing them out helps make the key terms stick better.
I completely agree. What happens when we do so is that we do not get a true performance of how well the student learned the material.
Just this term students who just missed getting an A in the class by a few points even one missed it by 1 pt was begging for Extra Credit. I find that they had it easier in prior class in getting A's and can not stand getting anything lower.
So, I let them know it's not fair for the other who need more points. I would have to give them the same opportunity and that I can not just in the books such amount of extra credit. At that is life and they will find out the same kind of things when they start working in the corporate world, working on projects, getting evaluated and bonus time or when they make the decision of who gets laid off.
But most of all remind them I do not give grades I report them. I am only the score keeper when it comes down to it.
Naila,
Really, extra credit doesn't help much except grade inflation, gives points, but little towards student learning.
Barry Westling
Doreen,
Many instructors and institutions agree with this sentiment.
Barry Westling
none. we are not allowed to issue extra credit
Carl,
Whatever works for you and your course is great. We want to be sure we measure learning, and as long as that occurs, the grading system is fine.
Barry Westling
My extra credit is truly something extra and beyond the normal course. It takes initiative on the student's part and is definitely beyond the normal course of study. Points are awarded based on the effort and excellence and adds to the students total points.
Douglas,
We just want to be fair and realistic when awarding student grades. Your process seems reasonable and appropriate.
Barry Westling
Extra credit shouldn't be used in the final grade - students may rather skip a test/assignment and make it up with the extra credit because they would rather do the extra credit.
I have used extra credit on individual exams. I have used a longer (to respond to) essay question at the end of an exam for extra points if they chose to do it. But, they were required to do every part of the exam. If they skipped part of the exam and did the extra credit, they received no extra points even though they did the work in the extra credit.
Megan,
I'm all for challenging students with assignments if they want to go the extra mile for learning. But I would not not do it for points that count significantly to a grade. I've had students not do required assignments but expect extra credit to make up the missed points. Can't go there.
Barry Westling
Dayton,
You and many other instructors and institutions would be in agreement.
Barry Westling
I do not use extra credit at all. I feel like the evaluation should be done based on the required assignments.
Doretha,
This is like the real world and the lilkey environment for the work setting we're preparing our students for. Quizzing, as a precursor to a major exam, can properly prepare students. Of course study and a positive mindset are still needed prior to approaching any major examination.
Barry Westling
