An Alternative to Extra Credit
My school currently does not allow for extra credit. However, I found that students were showing up late for classes a lot and not reading the material, so I created reading quizzes. I give a short quiz on the reading material at the beginning of each class before we go over the material. If they are not there for it, they do not get the opportunity to take the quiz. If they are there, they take the quiz and if the cumulative grade on these reading quizzes at the end of the term is higher than one quiz grade, it replaces the quiz. If it is lower, the reading quiz does not work against them but is used as a study tool to see what they need to focus on for the main quizzes and tests. Since implementing this, students come to class on time and read the assignment more often.
Cynthia,
I will add that the more involved students are in their own learning the more memorable and significant will that learning be.
Barry Westling
Jodi,
I like your way of thinking. You are encouraging your class to be present for the reading quiz and they are in reality learning more of the material needed in their course. You are also giving the student the opportunity to better their grades.
Hi Jodi:
That sounds like a very creative way of using an assignment as a potential for helping an overall grade at the end of the course without actually having extra-credit assignments.
Regards, Barry
Extra credit points inflate grades. It is the policy of my school to prohibit extra points, but I have requests for extra oints frequently. I reeally like your idea of reading quizzes.
I kind of like this idea and may steal it for myself! I personally do not like giving extra credit, but this almost forces the students to read the material or just do better on the regular quizzes. However, if they are reading the material, they should be doing better on the regular quizzes, so it's win-win!
