I am not a fan of extra credit unless it is in project form. The courses I teach in the career college setting are very fast track, and there is simply not enough class time to incorporate extra credit. I am particularly not a fan of extra credit to make up for missed regular assignments or poor grades.
As much as I hated to do it, I just awarded someone enough extra credit to convert an "F" to a low "C." Too often, retention (and keeping people in school) also weighs on our decisions. In this case there were factors worth considering, which were correctly weighted in favor of the student.
I don't really offer extra credit assignments. I will offer a chance to earn extra credit on a per quiz basis, with extra questions at the end of the quiz. I will ask a question like 'take me through the blood flow of the body, beginning with the heart' or 'What is the proper order of draw if I need 1 blue top tube, 2 purple top tubes and a tiger top tube for blood testing?' Both questions could be test questions, but are nice for extra credit on a quiz. Usually only on pop quizzes, though.
I have the same experience with the offering of extra credit that most other instructors have, the students willing to do it are usually not the ones who really need it.
I have learned the HARD way about extra credit. In the past students were passing my classes because of the extra credit! Now I rarely hand out extra credit and when I do, the points are small, 10-25 points!
This would probably work very well, since I think it is inferred that the opportunity is available to every student in the class.
Hi William:
Extra credit can be a great thing, as long as it doesn't allow a student to slip by when they haven't demonstrated a minimum understanding of the main topics.
Regards, Barry
I agree. I do not use extra credit. I would much rather my assignments be relevant. That way the students want and do spend the right amount of time of the assigned work and get better scores. It saves a lot of time and stress for everyone.
Actually, I almost never give extra credit assignments. There is just too much room for complaint. Good students don't need it, and students who have missed exams, done poorly on exams, etc., want the extra credit weighted so heavily as to replace a missed or poor grade. Plus, they want it to be something so simple, that it really doesn't take any effort, which isn't the point of 'extra' credit.
Module ED105 does an excellent job of explaining when and how to assign extra credit. However, I find that it is just too much effort to administer, and if I allow it for one person, then others will want it as well, so I just don't do it.
We actually have a college policy prohibiting extra credit points. If it's really something that's important, the students should all be completing it anyway. If it's not really important, why give them points for something that's not important?
This depends on the type of class, length of class time taught in, and teacher thought of if needed.
I do not support Extra Credit. However, if one or two students have a one time actual crisis (health, major death in the family, etc.), then I may be a bit more flexible and try to assist them to succeed, but the extra credit would be minimal, otherwise, it just isn't fair to all students. A crisis to one student, may not be a crisis to another, etc.
We are not permitted to utilize EC
Hi Kevin:
If you ask my opinion, I say EC does not help students, at least in their learning. It helps with the grade component of a class, but achieving improved learning or increased knowledge usually is not obtained.
I say if an activity or assignment is important to be accepted for grading, it should be included in the course from the get go. My opinion.
Regards, Barry
Our school does not allow extra credit, and I agree with that idea. I've tried to give bonus points and work with extra credit before I knew we were not supposed to do that and it became such a hassle. The students would argue over how many points they should recieve or where they wanted to apply the points. I found it's easier to work with the student to see them succeed on their own terms not with exta credit..it does not exist in the real world.
Extra credit should not have a large role in the final grade. the final grade is what the student earns, not what they are just given. extra credit should only be given when a student is working diligently, but is having trouble with the curriculum.
I think EC should be offered to the entire class, if offered at all... I have allowed students to write a paper as a make-up for missing a quiz or test... In either case, I am not confident that I am doing the best thing for the students...
Hi Michelle:
If students expect extra credit beyond what is stated in the syllabus, the gradies get inflated, some students may feel some degree of unfairness (if they've done all the assignments) and assigning a grade may be somewhat subjective.
I don't permit extra credit, period. Students know that from the start. But I will do everything I can to get them full credit for the regular assignments.
Regards, Barry
I normally don't offer EC, but when I do, it is usually worth no more than 5 points. I have also noticed that the students who do ask for extra credit are those who are not doing well in class due to absenteeism and failing their test / quizzes.
Rich
Hi Joshua:
Each teacher and institution has to decide what they consider to be fair and accurate measure of the student's performance. Extra credit has to do more with grades than the learning that occured. An essay with bonus points is not a bad idea - I would state that kind of activity at the beginning of of the class, then no one can feel like classmates received special treatment (one of the reasons many teachers don't use EC).
Regards, Barry
Hi Pamela:
Your "EC" is really a bonus for following the assignment. Therefore, since it was assigned, I would'nt really consider that EC. Many teachers will add someting like this to a test or exam to give the student an opportunity to demonstrate something they know or learned from the class that may or may not be assessed on the test.
Regards, Barry
