EXTRA CREDIT
Students are more willing to complete extra credit assignments to help their scores in the course. In teaching Accounting, I've found that most of my students love completing extra credit, not only because of the points, but it gives them more knowledge on the material.
Talita,
This makes sense. We really don't help a student if we state "this is what you need to learn", and then when students fail to meet that minimum standard we say " that's OK, you don't have to learn this, and I'll just give you some points for some busy work assignment". Maybe this helps students pass, but it doesn't help them know the needed material in the class or perhaps afterwards in the job market.
Barry Westling
I agree with you. I don't like to give extra assignments or credits. I want you to try to remain focus, keep up with your class and becoming driven. Next if it come to losing a student to droping ou all together, I will assist them, MOTIVATION IS MY MAIN GOAL, GET THE EDUCATION. So my role as an instructor is to inspire these individual and assist them period!
Hi Mark,
Perfect example on how to handle this situation. I believe if it's important, it should be included anyway.
Barry Westling
What is the difference between extra credit, and just creating an extra assignment for them to do. Why does it have to be extra credit? Students ask me all the time for extra credit, I don't give it, but I give them another homework assignement to do.
Hi Chara,
I personally shy away from giving EC. I like using assignments that arn't required and appreciate they help students learn. It's the credit part that is problematic. Basicially I feel grades should only come from the predetermined grading criteria I've set up. If it's inportant, it should be included in the regular curriculum. This is my personal bias and opinion based on past experience that resulted in less than desired results in awarding credit, so I just have learned it's best (for me) not to give it.
Barry Westling
I use extra credit to get my students involved in the course content. For example, when trying to get students to understand how to create bibliographies, we discussed the MLA formatting. Then I sent my students to the computer lab to research two sources and correctly format them in a bibliography. The extra credit encouraged the students to learn the MLA format and to apply it for extra credit.
Hi Demelece,
I'm all for extra assignments to enhance or reinforce learning. It's the awrding of pointys that makes it a tricky task, one that I raely incorporate.
Barry Westling
