Extra Credit
It's funny how the students react when I said: “Extra Creditâ€; they think that doing only the extra credit project,will help them to pass the class. I always remained them that extra credit doesn’t work like that. But always impress me how hard they work in the project.
Laurie,
In the sense that tests should measure learning, a bonus activity like this makes a lot of sense. Limiting the weight of this assignment will keep the student determining their level of learning, rather than the instructors expectation of what learning should occur.
Barry Westling
I now give no more than 5 bonus points per exam. I also like the idea of putting the question of "what is something you learned that I did not test you on?" That is a great idea!
Kevin,
Activities like this, where the students learn, are really not extra credit to me. Itt's more like extra opportunity, and I think that's terrific!
Barry Westling
I have a form of extra credit that gives my students more drive throughout the course. I teach at a automotive trade school. In one of my classes I have it set up to where if a student completes all required assignments with an above 95% grade and hasn't missed any time. They get to work on a special project that consist of an a complete rebuild and restoration. The students really enjoy this and take great pride in getting to work on the special project, which gives them more drive to do well in their daily assignments.
Polly,
Yes, and many instructors and institutions realize this and therefore decide not to allow any EC.
Barry Westling
I got into trouble with extra credit my first semester teaching. I was offering too much extra credit and students were doing the extra credit and not studying their regular work and then doing poorly on exams. A lesson learned the hard way!
Eric,
I'm not a fan of extra credit either, although I will give bonus questions on a test and drop the lowest quiz. I feel these kind of adjustments are reasonable and don't interfere with my ability to measure learning. But just giving students points for added assignments (in lieu of or supplemental to) their regular graded work artificially skews grades.
Barry Westling
I am not sure that I approve of extra credit. I develope a course outline and I beleive if a student is working through that there is no need. Also this point out those that fail to attain the minimums.
Thomas,
Right, and for that reason and many others, institutions and instructors choose not to give EC at all.
Barry Westling
I have noticed that the students who are in need of extra credit often are not the ones who turn it in for grading. To me it can be a bad sign when a student asks for extra credit before they take test.
Hello Joan,
I have encountered the exact same response from my students. Announced 'credit' that is stated as 'extra' means something for them as over and above their poor grades. To cite an instance, one student has this attitude of not really striving to do his best as he is expecting that 'extra credit' awaiting him anyway.. and the thing about it is that for his types 'extra credit' comes in easier terms than a quiz for instance.
Heather,
This sounds like an interesting activity that enhances your students learning.
Barry Westling
At my school, we are not allowed to offer extra credit due to corporate policies. Some students have never noticed this policy.
What I have done is assign a homework activity that is short and fairly enjoyable and not part of their routine. These 10 points will not make or break a student, but it does get the majority to pay attention.
For example, when teaching the endocrine system, I wasn't happy with the small amount of material our textbook offered on diabetes. For homework, I told them to write me a brief description of all 3 forms of diabetes. I asked them to write it as if they were explaining to a patient.
This homework was in addition to our regular homework.
Hi Joan:
I encounter so many students who would rather do a project than an exam - in fact, our class on Networking does a course project, rather than the Summative Exam. Students must collaborate in a team environment and draw on the course material to deliver a product - this is a performance-based assessment, and really, why students come to school - to learn how to do something.
Extra credit, though, can come it when the students have at least addressed all the required stuff and decide to go farther.
I suspect your students may be like minded in that regard.
-R
Joan,
Probably a virtue of human nature is to get as much as possible by doing the least, as in this scenario where students will work hard on the EC, while paying less attention to the required assignments designed to get them to learn. So many variables with EC, I just choose not to offer it most occasions.
Barry Westling
