Extra Credit
Creating extra credit projects for students who did poorly on a test, a projector or to get the grade up. This gives them an insentive to better themselves It gives them hope of being able to pass the course. Knowing that they have to study or work harder toward their goals.
Hi Josef:
Some institutions have moved away from allowing the use of extra-credit due to some issues that arise.
If a student can pass a course without demonstrating an understanding of the primary concepts, that may end up resulting in angry feelings from other students who have worked hard to earn a solid grade.
Regards, Barry
I think it is important for extra credit to be relevant to the class and not allow a student to raise a grade to an A based on extra credit alone.
I prefer to give alternative choices on parts of a test or project to allow the student some choice, but not total.
Examples: Allow a student on an essay test to replace a question and answer with a relevant question and answer of their own.
On projects i have all students do some things that are the same for everyone and then have a choice of activities for the other part of the project. They are all within the parameters of the class outcomes, but it give the students some flexibility when they prepare the information.
I think that extra credit can be a deterent from the necessary course information. I'm in favor of the students focusing on the learning activities that are central to the course material.
Hi Jennifer:
I think extra assignments are wonderful and do contribute to enhanced learning. I just don't think extr credit should be given for it. For me, if it's valuable and useful for students, then it ought to be included in the curriculum. Just my opinion.
Regards, Barry
Hi Adel:
Right. EC seems more focused on points and grades than learning and application. I avoid doing any EC in my classes.
Regards, Barry
I agree with this last post, because there are a lot of things outside of the curriculim that are also important to learning. Giving the student an extra assignment will only benefit them
I agree, sometimes it can cause them to develop a dependence on extra credit so they can miss days and then do "make-up" work later.
Hi Heidi:
Using the work setting as an example, workers don't get extra credit because they are habitually late, so to ask to stay late to make up thier missed time is unrealistic. Or, perhaps demonstrate poor work performance and ask to do something extra to compensate.
You point out it's usually the good students that want to challenege themselves with extra credit. I agree this true, and mostly they don't even need the points. I think challenging students with alternative study assignments is terrific, but feel awarding credit for that should not improve their grade. If it's valuable, it should be made a requirement for all students.
Regards, Barry
I traditionally used extra credit in very limited quantities for my students that found the material easy and interesting and would like a little extra challenge. They usually enjoyed these assignments and were already getting a good grade. The points never added up to more than one percentage point overall. However, I no longer do this since our campus has an official policy of no extra credit.
Hi Irene:
Great comment, analogy, and rationale!
Regards, Barry
Sometimes students can use extra credit to avoid doing things that are really important. For example, if they want to avoid a particular assignment, it's easier to justify it when they know they can make up the points with "extra credit". Missing certain assignments may really have an impact on their ability to function in the work place later. I agree, there is no extra credit in the work place, and there is no traffic jam on the extra mile!
Hi Melanie:
I agree, especially your analogy about the work setting after graduating and getting a job. Accountability has to come into the picture at some point.
I don't know, maybe some of the students or employees we see acting "entitled" or you owe me" comes from practices like extra credit these folks have relied on throughout their academic career.
Regards, Barry
Extra credit does have value, but after graduating school and working in their career you aren't given extra credit to improve on something that wasn't done correctly after the fact. You are expected to take the initiative to improve yourself. Motivation is important. Some students become too relient on extra credit and do not perform as well as they should the first time around. Besides students learning the necessary material to be successful, they must also gain life skills to help them excel in their career path.
Bruno:
That's a great help and very generous. I think just getting that kind of information is reward enough - there's no need to award extra points for doing something that the student should know. Many teachers are opposed to giving extra credit, and some institutions don't allow it. There must be a reason.
Regards, Barry
The extra credit project will help the student to focus a little more on parts of the course that the student needs more help.
Cecilia:
Because of the professions they work in, many teachers believe that extra credit is not embraced widely, because much of what the student has to learn can ultimately affect the well being of others, such as patients, clients, structural safety, community safety, etc. "If they got to know it, they got to show it". Giving more credit than defined in the syllabus really only adds points, not knowledge.
Regards, Barry
