I do not award extra-credit in class. I feel it rewards those students who have not been doing their work and realize that they are not doing well in a class. It is not fair to students who consistantly come to class prepared and have done all the work.
I will give extra credit points that can be added to the lowest test score, not a final. Some days even the students have a bad day, maybe they're not feeling good or something else is going on in their family. A few extra points to help increase a grade to what the students usually get isn't a crime.
I believe extra credit should be made avail. to every student. During the first class of the semester I go over what can be used for extra credit. I let the students know the value of the extra work on the first day. This way they have no false ideas of how much extra credit they can get and that there main course work is the most important.
Hi Karen:
Some institutions don't allow extra credit because it may allow a student to pass a course when they haven't demonstrated an understanding of the main points.
Regards, Barry
Hi Rebecca:
Most institutions are in agreement that extra credit does not facilitate learning, and can have a negative impact on the attitude of other students who don't "need" the extra credit.
Regards, Barry
I don't believe in extra credit. The students should get the material in class, and if they should miss the class then it called make up time for them. However the instructor needs to be there to answer any questions they may have about the missed material.
Hi Donald:
Extra-credit can definitely serve the student. As long as there isn't the chance of the student being able to pass the course through the sue of it, when they haven't demonstrated an understanding of the material.
Regards, Barry
Hi Bennetta:
If we use bonus questions at all, they should be minimal for the very reason you are describing. Otherwise, a student may pass an exam, quiz or even (gulp) the entire class without really demonstrating they understand the primary concepts.
Regards, Barry
Hi Frederick:
There are strong arguments about using it or not. If we do use it, most agree that it's best to describe the expectations about extra-credit as soon as possible to the entire class, so it's the same for everyone.
Regards, Barry
Hi Teasha:
TO support your statement, the possible negative thing about extra-credit is that it may allow a student to pass the classs when they haven't demonstrated an understanding of the material.
Regards, Barry
I think EC can be good and bad. As a rule I don't give a lot of extra credits. If I have a student that is having a problem with something then I may give an opportunity for a little extra credit but it will be something that will help them in the area they need most.
I too am not an advocate of EC. I think that by offering EC, we are enabling our students to slack off on other areas and not put forth the necessary efforts in class.
Too many students than rely on EC to pull their grade up or they use the extra credit to replace assignments that they choose not to complete.
We don't have EC in real life... so I don't advocate EC in class. We are training for careers and real life..
I personally do not offer extra credit. Being in class and participating is worth alot more than any extra credit in my book. Not being in class you are missing out on so much information. Usually the students who want to do extra credit are those who don't have good attendance, which then they receive bad grades. Come to class and study and you won't need to ask about extra credit. Not fair to students who show up day in and day out.
I completely agree with that. I have been dealing with a particular student who continues to ask for EC. I have explained the purpose of EC.Her test scores are average and I know that she does not put forth the effort to study for them. I have given her ideas to improve her study habits and haveoffered to spend extra time with her but she is always too busy. Sometimes I will offer spelling words at the end of a test for minimal EC but for the most part, I do not offer it across the board.
My school doesn't have a policy against EC and I don't have a problem with how I use it. On homework or tests, I include EC problems which use the same principles as the regular problems. Some problems just make more sense to people than other ones and they can answer them correctly. If you're testing on the same principles, why not allow EC? That method I use for math problems, especially word problems.
I also teach science. Some people feel very strongly about certain topics and I allow them to provide EC info about those topics. As long as the science is correct, I feel that people are learning the science as well as the relevant social connections. I feel this helps them extrapolate what they've heard in class into what they experience in their world. If they can do that, I feel they've learned something, which surely, is the point here.
We do use extra credit at my school but sparingly. I like to use EC in review games. This encourages the student to start preparing for the exam earlier than they normally would have in some cases. Everyone who participates has the opportunity to make some EC points.
What a great summary! Extra credit questions arise often, and now you have presented me with a tool that is a perfect response.
I will award extra credit if a student exceeds expectations, but it should never total over what they would have earned for the course. I hate seeing other instructors gradebooks with a student with an ending grade of 100.9%.
Extra credit work should only be a small part of of the grade not something for the student to rely on and not do outher more important cless work.
This is so true --everyone gets a trophy --this is what extra credit relates to..
it is best to have them not expect it
they think it is ok not to do as well they will just get the points.
it is not always about the score.
