We allow no extra credit.
As a student in the past, most of the instructors that I had did not allow extra credit in a traditional sense but did allow extra assignments that could be factored in as a percentage of our grade. Most students find this method fair because it doesn’t give the students with low grades an advantage (it wasn’t worth so much that it replaced and low test scores) and if your grades were high, you could choose to not do the assignment.
Hi Stephen:
Each institution and instructor has to decide how they are going bto treat various situations. Illness or medical reasons always is a tough call as usually there is no fault by the student, yet they can be penalized.
Generally, I oppose awarding EC and so state at the beginning of my course and in my syllabus.
Regards, Barry
Extra credit is not allowed by admistration where I teach.
In my opinion, extra credit should play only a minor role, if any at all. Your original grading plan should be made up of enough components to give students the flexibility to play on their strenghts and weaknesses. I would only allow extra credit after careful consideration of each individual situation.
The extra credit I would give would be offered to all students to remain fair, and I would announce it at the first class session.
I agree with the role being more guided toward student special interest vs. making up for poor previous performances. It is encouraging to see students jump up and show strong interest in one or more specific book focus and become an expert of sorts. They should be rewarded for such efforts.
I give extra credit as 40% of class assignments and this allows a 87% student the opportunity to gain the elusive "A" and feel proud to have earned it.
Dear Christine,
I'm thinking of giving extra credit to my students which should be a make up tool because some of them did a poor job on a few tests or assignments. Sometimes I also ask the students to try something on their own to gain these extra points for those who willingly go the extra mile on certain assignments. However, the extra credit should not be too great, so as not to affect the regular grading.
Hi Roger:
I am not an advocate for either EC or dropping lowest quiz score.
I mention that as a substitute to participants in this forum who favor giving EC, and give my opinion why EC doesn't contribute to learning, only grades and points.
So I offer an alternative, which, in my mind is different than EC,, i.e. the bonus question on an exam or dropping one lowest quiz score because at least these points will have been earned and based on student performance on established course curriculum.
I believe "if course material is not learned, then the points should not be earned".
Regards, Barry
I give my students an extra credit assignment if they do poorly on a test. I have them make something creative and accurate, which is easy to do in the medical field. It helps them learn and boosts their morale. Those who choose not to do it, don't receive extra points.
I think extra credit can be a great tool. However, it should not play a major role in making up for a lack of participation or focus in the class, or be a replacement grade for something the student did not complete.
Extra credit can help a student, who perhaps has a difficult time with test anxiety. Also, if used appropriately, it can greatly enhance the learning process for the entire class if it is shared in class. It should never take the place of focus or incomplete course work. But it can aid a student who is struggling to do well.
Extra credit should be determined on a class by class basis. It should not be something the students expect in each course.
Christine,
Excellent point. Personally, I do not agree with extra credit and have always avoided it. When students ask about extra credit I just explain that my classes have plenty of credit opportunities already. I have never had a problem with this issue.
Just my thoughts,
Kent
I feel that extra credit is to be awarded when the students take the initiative to either go above and beyond or to make up for missed classes/assignments. As a college student I remember having an issue with a class that I was going to miss due to a surgery that I couldn't reschedule and when I spoke to the professor beforehand I was given no chance to make up or get extra credit. I felt like I made the effort to address the issue, do a makeup for the class and/or extra credit and was completely shot down. I dropped the class as a result. I wouldn't want to make my students feel the way that I did about that experience.
I prefer not to give extra credit. I think it takes away some degree of incentive to do well on the exams.
I also prefer not to drop the lowest grade because it is a disincentive to do well on all the exams. I have seen students plan not to study because the bad score will be dropped.
I would rather give the student the grade they earned on the exams and projects.
Roger
Hi Jennifer:
I want to help students learn, offer encouragement and support, advice and suggestions. Tese are tenets of teaching.
I'm not a fan of giving points for doing little work. Usually extra credit has little to do with learning and more to do with points and grades.
As I said, I want to teach and expect my students to learn, and I'll do what I can to achieve that.
Giving away points does not achieve learning outcomes. My opinion.
Regards, Barry
Hi Lynn:
Your school has that policy for a reason. I don't know what it is but is among the majority of colleges that have adopted similar policies, probably mostly attributed to avoiding accusations of unfair classroom practices.
Let's make the assumption that learning is the purpose. If the class is averaging low, then what about some remediation, tutoring, or review, then repeat the test (or one similar). In this instance, no extra credit is given, just extra instruction. Voila! Class average improves, and students have earned every darned point on their own.
Regards, Barry
Hi Maria:
I think there are few instances that student's "deserve" extra credit. For me, that's like saying, "I'll give extra points to some students but not others".
Now I know you don't mean it that way, but if extra credit is important, I think it should just be a part of the regular curriculum and available (and expected) of all students.
Things like dropping the lowest quiz or a bonus point on a final example - those make sense because they relate to learning. Having students choose not to do some things then wanting credit for other things just isn't fair. Just my opinion.
Regards, Barry
I believe that extra credit should be given to students who really deserve it and hard working not to students who doesn't make effort.
thanks Barry
Extra should be given to those students making great effort but need that extra push. It can be rewarding and fun. Giving them a new outlook along with helping grade.
