Barry Westling

Hi David:

The potential problem with offering EC is that it may allow some students to just squeak by and pass the course when they really haven't demonstrated an understanding of the primary points.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Lisa:

Many institutions don't allow the use of this sort of thing due to the potential that it may allow a student to slip by a course without demonstrating a good working knowledge of the key concepts.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Donald:

In fact, many institutions do not allow instructors to offer EC due to the fact it may allow a student to slip by in a class when they don't understand key concepts.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Rebekah:

Is the EC enough of an impact that it would allow a student to just barely pass your course? If so, I can see how that might result in some hard feelings from other students that are working for a top grade.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Debra:

A lot of institutions are moving away from using EC due to the fact it might allow a student to slip by and pass a course when they really have not demonstrated they deserve to.

Regards, Barry

glen brown

Extra credit should be considered an effort to demonstrate "good faith", in an endeavor that meets or exceeds "minimum standards"; and crosses the established crieteria for academics, attendance, and showing up to class on time. Reward should be given in recognition of "going the extra mile"; which, may or may not be reflected in a higher "letter grade.

Cynthia Glass

I completely agree. I tell my students day one that there will be no extra credit in my courses. I think if students are doing the work they don't need extra credit and if they are not doing the work or have attendance issues they should be rewarded by getting extra credit. I have given extra credit in cases but only in rare cases and it has been tied to work in progress and attendance.

Kelvin Gurr CHEP

Barry, I like your style man. I too take this type of approach. I don't have any extra credit in my course but I do hand out a small business card type thing that gives examples of how a students preformance relates to the grade they should could expect. I often get the student that hasn't taken the course seriously in the begining that is in a panic to pass in the last week. At that point I believe in holding them accountable to the syllabus as I am.

Colleen Schwindt

Unfortuately, at our career college the grade book doesn't allow for extra credit. I have been asked multiple times by my students if they can get extra credit. After reading the section on the advantages and disadvantages of extra credit, I see the benefit of not consistantly offering it in the curicullum. The one situation I that I could see the advantage of extra credit was when during the course I deleted a required homework secondary to time constraints. Some of the students had already done it. I felt that they should have recieved credit for it but I was unable to do that. I told the students that had already done the assignment that it will benefit them in the long run for the knowledge recieved and the improvement that it would show in their final exam (hopefully).

Melanie Witte CHEP

Our school does not utilize extra credit so I don't have any personal experience with it. After reading several of the posts, it doesn't sound too inviting.

Phyllis Boucher

I dont think it should take a role in Final grades but for the other, Yes.

Kimberly Langer

I ONLY award extra credit opportunities to those students who have completed all of their assignments by their due dates.

Jeff Friend

Extra credit should be used very sparingly and not much weight should be placed on it.

-Jeff

Judy Howard

I find that the students with the lowest grades want the EC, I feel that they need to work harder and acheive higher grades, I give EC very rarely and try to focus on helping the students with study helpers

Enrique Lozano

Im not sure how i could give extra credit our grades only go to a 100 no more. If I give extra credit the ones who recieved a 100 will not benefit from it and the ones who im sure did not study will get closer to the ones who study.

Jonathan Rickards CHEP

I happen to agree with you. Extra credit is almost always requested by those that have done poorly. Rather than give extra credit I sometimes allow for work to be done over. This way I know the student is learning course information. Also, sometimes students need to do things twice to understand.

David Glass

I often let students know at mid-term that they will have the opportunity to earn extra credit during the second half of the course if they are unhappy with their grade. I always emphasize the required assignments are more valuable and vital to passing the course. If they want to earn a higher grade than their performance to date has resulted in, I offer a couple ways in which to increase their total grade, but only if all assignments and exams have been finished.

Brant Brown CHEP

I allow extra credit to replace the lowest quiz grade; however, I find that this practice discourages some of my better students. They feel that I am rewarding students that don't come to class prepared.

Ron Diefenthaler

I steer away from EC. I find students use it as a crutch, although on my 1st test of the term I may give them 1 or EC questions until they learn the testing format I use. Their studying and preparation my not match the testing format and this gives the student a chance to get back a few points.