Hi Patricia:
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
Hi Sherri:
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
Hi Elise:
Similar to yours, 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
Why should they have them?
extra credit for group project is great, students participate, they keep engage and learning at the same time student prepares well for final grades
I believe it should be a way for students who wish to excell and get more out of the course than the core curriculum to get an opportunity to do so. I also believe that a point value is needed for student incentive to complete the task; two to three percent of overall grade for example.
People deserve recognition. Students are no different. They need rewarding when extra credit is done.
Hi Ryan:
A lot of institutions are shying away from the use of extra credit because it may allow a student to pass a course by the skin of their teeth. Is that fair to those who have worked hard to get the best grade possible in the class?
Regards, Barry
Hi Michele:
Many institutions aren't allowing extra credit for the very reason you describe. What I've done is put an extra question at the end of the test like you described, but tell the student they can only earn a maximum of "100%" on the exam despite the use of the extra questions.
Regards, Barry
The majority of the responses in this forum clearly support no use of extra credit. As I have yet to teach in a formal setting I will bend toward the alck of use and put my time toward assisting the struggling students with strategies for success. It will be interesting to revisit this idea in 6 months.
Hi Warren:
True, perhaps it has merit as a reward system. What can happen if NOT structured in that way is possible allow a student to pass the course without really demonstrating an understanding of the material.
Regards, Barry
I am of the belief that extra credit should play a role in calculating a student's final grade. The instructor should outline his or her policy regarding the role extra credit will have in the final grade. This outline should be discussed with the students on the first day along with the instructor's method of calculating it. I feel that this approach will help motivate students to do well in class along with their attempt to improve the grade they had up to the point of doing the extra credit assignment.
I like the extra credit carrot as I call it. I teach anatomy and physiology and I dangle a 2 pt bonus question on some of the system tests. The extra points are from a previous chapter or a current event that was discussed in class that week. It is a game between the class and myself as to what the question will be and can they answer it not that they think they need free points.
Hi Lyn:
You point out the very issues that using extra credit can produce. In general, if an instructor's institution allows, the extra credit should be offered to all, and not created in such a way that it would allow a student to pass the course without demonstrating an understanding of the main ideas.
Regards, Barry
Hi Magda:
When doing so, is it possible for your student to get more than 100% on that assignment? If so, what are the consequences at the end of the course?
Regards, Barry
Hi Lillian:
One issue that might arise from allowing the use of extra credit is if it allows the student to pass a course without their ability to demonstrate an understanding of the primary concepts and ideas.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jacqueline:
Many institutions use a similar policy due to the issue of the extra credit possibly allowing a student to pass a class without really demonstrating an understanding of the main ideas.
Regards, Barry
Not that big of a role. The exams, homework and projects are a huge factor in the final grade. Extra credit means "Extra Credit, hence the word EXTRA.
I don't lilke the term extra credit. I feel as though many students see it as a way to get out of theri regualr studies. I teach two very short courses that only have a mid-term and a final. As someone who has tremendous test anxiety, I understand how this grading(mandated by my school)can hamper my students. After they take the mid-term, they are given the oppurtunity to hand in test corrections. They must write out the rationale for why their answer was wrong and the correct answer was correct.I then award partial credit towards the test. All students are offered the this, regardless of their grade. I do not tell the class prior to the test because I don't want them to rely on these points.
