Additional work/Extra Credit
Some students complete lab assignments way ahead of the rest of the class. Sometimes I assign these students additional work or extra credit to "broaden their horizons" and prepare for higher level courses during their course of study. These assignments are usually "higher skill level" and are not required for the current course. Can this potentially make other students "jeolous" for not having the opportunity to perform extra-credit assignments?
Hi Duane,
I do not know if there is any magical fix to this popular concern. I have the same challenge after teaching for 22 years. It is amazing what you get from students whenever they take the certification exam review course for various certification, it is like the information is Greek to them...
Patricia
Although not related to this topic, I do have a problem for which I do not see an appropriate module. As a result of short terms (10-12 week quarters) my students quickly become bolemic learners: they scarf it down, then barf it out on an exam and it's gone. When certification exam time arrives, many are faced with the daunting challenge of re-learning two years of material. After 40 years of teaching, I find information retention my biggest challenge! Is there anyplace here I might find some ideas I have not tried?
Hi Duane,
I agree 100%! They need to focus on the work that is required of them so that they do not have to worry about extra credit once their grades begin to suffer. I do not believe in extra credit to cushion a grade. Work hard at the very beginning so that positive results are granted at the end.
Patricia
Most of my students seeking extra credit are attempting to simply enhance their grade as opposed to obtaining additional knowledge. The majority of low grades which I see are due to lack of effort and time devoted to the material. If a student can't find time to prepare for the basic expecations of the course, where will they find time to do additional work?
Hi Marlin,
I am not a fan of extra credit. I feel as though if you do your part as an instructor an teach very effectively and the student does their part and study, there is no need for extra credit. Extra credit can sometimes cushion a grade too much, an a B student can possibly get an A out of the course.
Patricia
I just reached this point in the course and ask forgiveness for not responding earlier. I have some concerns about additionsl work/extra credit. Most of the concern is the grading of such work. When a student has an 'A' and does extra credit work what grade are they given? Can a 'C' or 'D' student improve their grade to a 'B' or even an 'A'?
Yes, It could make other students jealous of the more advanced students. I also offer extra credit to my students, but I offer it to the entire class at the same time. This allows all the students the same chance to do it. By offering it to only the students who have completed your work your giving other students the impression you care about those students more. They also might feel like those students don't need the extra credit and they do need it and you don't offer it to them. It could cause them to dislike your distribution of extra credit.
Hi Jeaneen,
Fair/consistency is key! All students should be treated the same.
Patricia
If the other students are not given the opportuninty to perform the extra credit assignment, then yes I could see where it could cause some jeolousy, but if everyone has the opportunity to do the extra credit assignment I don't see a problem.
Extra credit can help students who may miss a class.
As a commuter school, just getting to class can be challenging.
A prepared list of extra credit opportunities makes it available to all students.
Hi Paul,
No, you can even offer this to every student that way you are being fair to all.
Patricia
