Bonus points vs. extra credit
I'm wondering whether bonus points and extra credit are the same thing. Our school recently banned extra credit. I have occasionally added a higher level thinking question to my exams, for which I gave bonus points for correct responses. I considered these to be good indicators of transference of learning, but now I wonder whether I can still use them.
Leigh,
Your last sentence captures one of my frustrations with teaching. The students that need support the most in order to change their lives seem not to buy into the help being offered. This always makes me sad because I know they are capable if they will just look forward past their current problems. Your methods of helping your adult learners with extra credit are good ones. Keep them coming for your students.
Gary
I am not in favor of extra credit in a public public school setting. However, in my adult learner population, I feel extra credit can find a beneficial place. Many times, my students miss class due to family emergencies, work, court or a broken down car. They are really trying & want to earn a good grade. The students loose 110 attendance points for every class missed & miss a 10 point quiz. These points are warm-body points & can not be made up.
I offer an extra credit assignment that require application of class concepts. I also stipulate students may not complete the assignment unless they have less than a B average.
Many students are grateful & complete the assignment to bring their grade up to an acceptable one. Of course the students that need the extra points the most never accept the challenge.
Hi Ana,
Good point. Instructors struggle with this area and have to find their own comfort zone on whether they will give extra credit or not. I have seen evidence of the point you make about poorly done or missed assignments.
Gary
I agree bonus points show a higher level of knowledge and serves to raise a student's self-esteem. Extra credit to me refers to doing extra work for assignments done poorly or missed assignments.
Hi Susan,
This is so true with students. When I was teaching in the public secondary schools on parents night it was the parents of the top students that showed up to talk with me at the conferences. Who I really needed to talk with the parents of the students that weren't attending or passing the course. This holds true for the students. Many times it is the students that are struggling that won't put forth the effort to earn the grade they want and instead they get the grade the earned.
Gary
I agree. The "A" students turn assignments in on time with no excuses and don't need the extra credit. Yet they are almost always the ones to do the extra credit, not because of the points, but because they like the challenge and want to continue to learn.
I don't see the difference. Either way, the student is getting something extra for extra effort, and is being rewarded for that extra effort. Sometimes, my students actually get more motivated by getting extra/bonus points than by doing the main assignment.
I feel that bonus points are appropriate for tests and quizzes. I don't usually give extra credit unless it is a hands-on project that the students show willingness to persue. These projects allow the good students to work something that they are passonate about, and since they are usually ahead of the class, i feel it enriches their college education.
When it come to any kind of extra/bonus points, its a bit difficult in the curriculum that our school is currently teaching. Becuase the classes are only 3 weeks long, most classes tend to have assignments due everyday.For the most part, I have always felt that extra credit should only be given once all the required assignments have been completed, hence the extra.As for bonus points bening given to make up for missed assigments, I believe that it is totaly unfair to those student who took the time to complete the assignments on time.
I think it is a great idea not to allow extra credit for anyone who is not up to speed on current assignments. It can send a mixed message if you allow a student to get a good score if that student has not applied him/herself to all the other aspects of their education.
I say go for it. To me, extra credit refers to an additional, optional assignment for a significant point value. Adding a bonus question to a quiz for a couple of points isn't the same thing.
I too am at a(/the) school that banned extra credit.
I have always allowed extra credit. I know a lot of students believe it is their God-given right to be allowed to do extra credit to make up for poor performance, and that attitude has always bothered me. However, extra credit is a motivator for and recognition of students who go above and beyond the call of duty, who want additional practice or more challenge in a course. My extra credit work has more stringent requirements and less assistance from the instructor. I also require that all regular work be completed in the course, or no credit is given for any extra-credit work the student may have done.
Hi Jennifer,
This is my approach as well. Thank you for sharing your perspective and how you handle the situation. This will be valuable for other instructors.
Gary
Extra available points for students who go well beyond expectation is a good way to separate the A's from the A minuses. Not all A's are equal and the students who deserve a little extra recognition should get it. However, bonus points should not turn B's into A's and C's in to B's. These are undeserving rewards and give the students a false sense of accomplishment and accountability.
I find that students use extra credit as a means to compensate for lack of performance on required assignments. For this reason, I do not include extra credit in my courses. Typically when students ask for extra credit, it is because they have not performed well to that point.
I do not offer extra credit because I find those who would like to the extra credit are usually the ones with decent grades. When students approach me about their grades and ask for it we sit down and look at their grade and find ways to improve on future assignments and tests.
I have found that most times extra credit is only done by the students already getting an A - rendering it a waste of time.
Colleen
I agree that extra credit is worthless; it usually is pursued by either a) high achieving students that don't need; or b) low achieving students who use it as an excuse to not do work or turn it in late.
I occasionally include a "bonus question" or two on an exam, which will not hurt your score if you get it wrong, but can earn you a couple of extra points by demonstrating that you have taken your studying for an exam to the next level.
Hi Rhonda,
I think you are still safe in using bonus points. You can have the questions on the test and then as you say if the students want to take it to the next level they can through their answers. Extra credit often times is used to gain points in situations where the students haven't completed the work, it is late or some other reason. I don't use extra credit either. I want them to do the work when it is due and at the highest quality, with extra credit they sometimes slack off because they know they can get the points anyway.
Gary
