Barry Westling

Hi Jill:
Truly, if used to enhance the course, these kind of assignments can be beneficial. Instructors do need to be careful not to allow extra credit to give a student the chance to pass the class if they haven't demonstrated a basic understanding of the main concepts.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Blanca:
Yes, it can be fun. However, most institutions frown upon it because it can make the difference between passing or failing a course.

For example, a student who is barely making it through a class might not be able to demonstrate they've learned anything, yet they still pass the course.

This may result in resentment from students who have actually learned something.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Elizabeth:
True, although we also need to be careful not to make it so easy to pass a class that students who are barely making it by can pass the course with just a few assignments.

This may make students who are working really hard come to resent the use of the extra credit.

Regards, Barry

Jill Kaplan-Garcia

Extra credit provides students with an incentive to go above and beyond the class material. If used to enhance lessons, it can help deepen the learning for students. It can also help struggling students by providing them with additional learning opportunities while allowing them a means to increase their grade

Blanca Delphey

I love giving extra credit because it does help those that are falling behind but at the same time it gives those that are doing well a fun project to try and get extra points.

Barry Westling

Hi Shoaib:
I feel anything that's graded should have clear expectatations stated at the beginning of class, available to all students, and use a standardized, uniform grading process.

For me, EC is unfair to good performing students who choose not to do the EC. It skews the overall class grades. Some students can feel like there is faroitism occuring if EC is used.

I have found more problems than benefits with Ec and have chosen just not to offer or approve it. Just my opinion.

Regards, Barry

Shoaib Danish

Extra point can also be given for classroom participation and answering challenging questions. That will encourage more students to participate in classroom discussions.

Barry Westling

Hi Melanie:
When students do poorly or miss assignments all together, turn in assignments late, or fail to follow written guideines to achieve optimal points, for me, it seems unfair to give EC when other students have complied.

I usually put a statement in my syllabus that "there is no extra credit awarded in this class". However, I might decide to drop the lowest quiz score, or give a essay question on an exam worth bonus points. But these are based on the assigned work.

To give students credit for alternate EC assignments when they haven't completed the required assignments is unfair. I don't do it.

Regards, Barry

Elizabeth Gallup

I think that is a great idea... by giving struggling students a project or some type of assignment, they can do some extra work, increase their knowledge, and hopefully increase their confidence in the class and material.