I think this is a tough question:
"What role should extra credit have in final grades?"
As you said in the module,the instructor should keep extra credit points low enough so that it may help a student move from a minus to a plus within in a grade. In some cases I think it is fair as I have seen students fail for being a tenth away from passing. When orally and hands on they do an exemplary job but they just are not test takers.
How would you answer the same question?
Tifany,
I prefer not to give extra credit, but recognize some teachers do. I feel if there is material that's important, it should be covered (and assessed) as part of the class. Of course, I don't object to giving student non-credit extra assignments if they ask. But to raise a grade, I choose not to go there.
Barry Westling
I feel that extra credit can help students that have tried hard during the course by studying and requesting extra help however could not achieve a higher grade. This will assist the student in not giving up.
Thomas,
Many would agree with you. Some courses it might be acceptable. For me, I choose not to offer it.
Barry Westling
James,
Bonus points are good because it can show the instructor something that the student has learned but has not been asked for on an assessment.
Barry Westling
Kanidrus ,
Opinions vary, and extra credit is a bit controversial. I generally don't give EC. but understand some classes it may an acceptable mechanism.
Barry Westling
I agree. The total points awarded to any student can't exceed the total points possible. I don't offer extra credit at all. It becomes very confusing. You have to offer it to every student and if there is a student who gets a 100 on everything....that student's score still cannot exceed the total possible points in the class.
Extra credit can be a part of a students grade if carried out in the appropriate manner. If the students are willing to take on extra projects and work in the class to learn more or provide a benefit to the class, then extra credit may be a possible bonus. However, just giving extra credit due to poor grades or something similar would not be an appropriate action.
I also offer extra credit on exams. This gives the student the opportuntity to increase their test grades, which can increase their overall average.
Kanidrus
Patti,
In my opinion, policies for extra credit should also be discussed and included in the course syllabus (if it's allowed). If not allowed, that should also be clearly stated in the syllabus.
Barry Westling
extra credit should be given only in situations where the student wants to go above and beyond. It should not be used to help a student get a a higher grade in the class, if the student truly does not deserve the grade. It should be a reward not a staple for the student to pass the class.
Robert,
This makes sense. If students want extra assignments to help them learn, I'm all for that. Asking for extra credit to make up for poor performance, missed assignments, or failing grades is just about points, usually with little impact on real learning.
Barry Westling
At our college, we have a policy against giving extra credit to students. Instructors giving say extra practical work, offer it to the entire class as a means of improving their hands-on skills with it being clearly stated that this will have no impact on their final grade but will help them in their career path.
Juan,
The prerogative to determine grades resides with their instructor. Unless we're not interested in measuring learning, most instructors will try to strike a balance between motivation and determination, and learned content from instruction, assignments, and tests. It's up to the instructor to decide how much subjective weight should be given to the final grade.
Barry Westling
Our Labs are very subjective, so during the course I ask students to show me how they came to certain conclusions on their lab sheets. Through out the course I randomly select students to do little extra things that are course related. As they perform their test outs I keep in mind what their performance was like during the course and take that into consderation on their final grades.
Janelle,
Our classes are about student learning. Students are interested in extra credit because they want (or need) additional points to achieve a certain (or passing) grade. So, we are interested in learning and extra credit is about points and grades, which are really not the same thing. I feel each instructor has to decide how (and if) they want to include extra credit. Personally, I do not, I state it in my syllabus, and students know not to ask.
Barry Westling
Extra credit is a controversial topic. If extra credit is used, there should be a specific policy that states what percentage of points is allowed, and that assignments must be related to a specific student learning outcome. Extra credit questions and assignments should be used to stretch or enhance student critical thinking skill.
Trinity,
My hestitation with extra credit is the potential for skewing grades to the point that I am not accurately measuring student learning. Therefore, my use is very limited (if at all), and perhaps would represent less than 1% of their final grade. I do like the creative aspect of extra credit assignments, and good students often ask if there is more they can do to demonstrate learning. I appreciate that effort.
Barry Westling
I use extra credit as a way to encourage a certain behavior, but they have to do something to get it. I do not offer it often, and it is not worth a lot of points. Example: watch or read a certain article/documentary (specific to what we are learning about)and submit a summary.
I find, however, that most students, who take on extra credit, are those that excel in the classroom. I don't think that is a bad thing. It encourages learning on an expanded scale for them.
Renee,
This seems reasonable, especially if thye student is demonstrating learned knowledge. I agree that too much will skew grades, students may take advantage of that opportunity, and we will end up without a true measure of student learning.
Barry Westling
