Students who have comprehension and test anxiety greatly benefit from extra credit. I have many students who can demonstrate skill sets perfectly but have difficulty test taking. The extra credit can also give the superior students a chance to move at a faster pace.It is a great motivational tool.
Karla,
Sounds like a good strategy. In my school we have a similar policy. Even through our students are online they still communicate and share experiences with each other.
Deborah Balentine
Extra credit should be used to encourage students to perform exercises and projects that enhance their learning experience. As the module stated extra credit can be used incorrectly and students will use the extra credit to avoid doing required assignments.
Deborah Balentine
Hello, I am glad our college does not allow extra credit for finals. Students are required to pass exam without bonus points.
I don't really like to give too much extra credit because I feel like it diminishes work that students have done by studying hard before a test. If I do give extra credit the points that I offer are very low and it takes a lot of work to get a few. Usually the amount of time studying for a final or midterm would be less time than getting extra credit points.
IMO, the point of education is that the students learn. Grades should reflect their level of learning. If the extra credit is awarded with the full confidence that the student has learned, then I see no problem with it, on a case-by-case basis. But, as you point out Brandy, those that have the drive to earn extra credit are usually the ones who do not need it. That's been my experience, too. However, I've also experienced that the ones who truly seek extra credit when their grades are low understand that they screwed up. These students are also driven to learn. Again, case-by-case, if they learn the required material, I have no problem adding points. So, a "C" becomes a "B", maybe, but not a "D" to an "A". ;)
Hi Brandy:
Many teachers will agree that there is no place for extra credit and just don't allow it. And you pointed out, even institutions have policies preventing it's use.
Regards, Barry
Extra credit is a tricky thing. At our college extra credit is not allowed. However at another college where I taught students were allowed 20 extra points throughout the semester. Most of the students who completed the extra didn't really need it and the one's who did never completed it. I think when it comes to extra credit and final grades it should only play a small role. And if you think about it in terms of an idividual's career you don't have extra credit at work so do you really need it in a course?
Hi Joseph:
Each institution and teacher has to determine what their preference and polices are regarding extra credit. My opinion and policy is that I choose not to give it.
Regards, Barry
Every student can participate more and has an equal chance to earn the credit. The "extra credit" goes to anyone who does extra participation and is really only given if their score was low to begin with. I don't allow extra time to get this credit - the credit is done during the participation phase. After the Unit has concluded, there is no extra credit awarded. But Students are told (and shown) how their extra participation can help a less than stellar original post.
I GUESS I would agree with you,but there is always a but alot of time this idea gets abused.the student who gets a 68 grade then is given extra credit two points now has a 70.what about student with a say 74 does he or she have same chance to improve score.Iguess its a case by case issue.
thank you for this chance
I don't allow extra credit for a final grade. But I do give extra credit questions on most tests. For instance, a test with 24-40 questions (chapter test) worth 100 points would have 2-5 extra credit points possible. Usually an essay type question. Of course, the tests would have an average at the end that would be averaged into their final grade.
It is my opinion that extra credit should be used as an incentive for those who wish to do extra work in a specific area of study. And should not be used as a spare tire or back-up plan for those not willing to study or put in the necessary time and effort to achieve the goal necessary for their success.
When I was in high school, a physics teacher refused to give "extra credit". He claimed it is a false indicator of a student's success in a course. I tend to agree. However, the idea is that a student learns the material, which may not always be in a timely fashion, at the moment they are evaluated. For instance, I've never forgotten many of the "wrong answers" on some of my tests, like how to spell "receive" (got that wrong on a test some 30 years ago). So, what I do in my online class discussion boards is offer extra points on extra posts if they participate well and understand the material, even if their original posting was less than satisfactory.
I dont award extra credit.
It just adds to the fury of my teaching skills
Hi Julie:
I am all for enhanced learning. I'm one who does not favor grade inflation. Extra credit can do that. It can be subjective, viewed as unfair by good and lesser performing students, difficult to grade fairly or consistently, and if it's not available to all, then it can be argued there is favoritism (although I know that's not the intent). But these are the reactions and negative experiences I've encountered. Therefore, I just don't give it.
I feel if it's important to know, and to grade, then it should be a part of the class and stated so at the beginning, stated in the syllabus, and expected of all.
Now, a bonus question or essay on an exam, or dropping the lowest quiz score, these are are like bonus techniques that are based on learned knowledge. It's not semantics. EC is about grades and points, and less about learning and knowledge.
Thats my spin and opinion. Each teacher and institution has to come up with their own policies.
Regards, Barry
Extra Credit should be used to enhance learning, give the high achieving students a small reward for doing extra work, or give a student the ability to raise his or her grade from a B+ to an A, for example.
HEY kARLA I FEEL ALOT OF MY STUDENTS TRY TO USE IT AS A WAY OF GETTING OVER
JOE KNIGHT
Hi Kathleen:
Well sounds a bit complicated but if that's the school policy and it's allowed or encouraged then the teacher is probably going to use it.
I just think that the syllabus should spell everything out in the beginning of a course and all students expected to be accountable for all assignments in the same manner.
Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen:
I think I'm more with your way of thinking. I would add that any graded activity should be available to all students, graded in the same way, and applied to the student's overall grade in the same way. And like you've stated, It's got to be related to the course objectives, student learning outcomes, and any applicable skills.
Free points (or points for relatively easy work that produces little original learning) is just wasteful time spent, in my opinion.
Regards, Barry
