bonus credit
I don't give extra credit assignments, but occasionally when a student hands in a phenomenal project I'll add a few points beyond the maximum worth of the assignment. I think exemplary work should be acknowledged, and students are always pleasantly surprised at the acknowledgement of their hard work. They usually try to continue living up to the higher levels they've set for themselves.
Extra credit must not be an individual initiative but a whole class privilege. The given points for a work must be the same for all students and bonus point(s) may be rewarded to anyone who shows exemplary great work. In this way, giving extra credit does not fall on the grey area of evaluation but will serve as useful strategy of reinforcement and motivation to the students.
Hi Evenlyn:
Bonus points that are given by the teacher when a student does exceptionally well, and when not asked for by the student are a good way to suugest you appreciate their effort.
A lot of discussion in these forums has had to do with extra credit, which if awarded just because the students grade is low due to missed assignments, poor performance, or substitution for the assigned work for the student's decision to do extra cfedit work instaed.
That's not really learning and has more to do with giving points to raise a grade. I don't think that's fair. That's not a "pat on the back"; that grade inflation for slacker students and I don't recognize that kind of "effort".
Regards, Barry
I like the bonus points.thats the pat on the back,great job.
Hi Rhonda:
See, I'd put this in the category of "bonus points" which I feel is entirely different thatn extra credit. In your example, the student puts forth effort independent from being asked or assigned, and does a great job.
Compare that to a student who does poorly or disregards a required assignment, then asks to do something else in order to bring up their grade. Doesn't work that way in the worekplace and I don't think it should work like that in class.
Regards, Barry
