I don't give extra credit. I figure that I give students more than enough work to do. If they do it all then they will most likely earn a passing grade.
If their grades are already good then they don't need extra credit. If their grades are not good then they need to address the factors that are affecting their ability to earn a better grade. They don't need to do more work using the same unsuccessful methods.
Jim,
I am in agreement. We want to base our instruction on learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
I do not believe you should ever use extra credit. The grading system is set on the syllabus prior to the first day of class and should be followed accordingly.
Wendy,
Students who expect EC credit (the kind that would boost thier grade) while doing less tha exemplary work with the required assignments is, in my opinion, sabotagging the existing grading system and interfering with the stated goals and methods to achieve goals the instructor has set up. To me, it's not fair to students who do their assignments and course work, and the grades earned on quizzes and tests, and accept the grade they receive.
Barry Westling
I find this is a very interesting question. In one class, I did not discuss the issue of extra credit at all with the students, yet one of them just assumed I would honor her extra work. They extra work she performed was of the same level as the regular work. I did not give her the extra points as I had never authorized it.
carla,
For me, it's all about learning. If course objective are not met, then giving extra credit is only about grades, which may have little to do with learning. I teach a medical program where essential material must be mastered. My view is there can be no subtitute for learning the essentails. I'm sure no one would want a medical professional working on their loved one who was an "A" student, but was unsafe or negligent in thier duties.
Barry Westling
I don't know, I am torn as far as extra credit is concerned. How do you reward that student who goes above and beyond? What about the student who is struggling to pass, isn't that what extra credit is for?
Michael,
Most of the time, that's the case. I don't give EC either. To be fair, there may be settings where some EC is appropriate. But to not do well with the required material and then expect to make up for it with non-required work and get credit for it doesn't sit well with me.
Barry Westling
I believe extra credit is a crutch for students who fail to live up to the requirements of the program.
Carl,
This system appears to be something workable for you in your institution. Good motivator for high achievers. Many institutions (mine included) does not allow for EC in the grading process.
Barry Westling
Extra credit should be given for extra work. This work is usually undertaken by the most motivated students who try for perfect scores each time.
Students who do poorly are often not interested in trying to complete extra credit work.
As in the final grade, the role of extra credit points should be small. The final exams , tests and knowledge measures should determine the final grade. Extra points should be used to determine ranking. The highest grade point student moves from a 98% to a 100% due to the extra credit or the valedictorian moves from 100% to a 100.5 to edge the next highest achiever at 100.2 .
Nicolette,
I agree that a small amount of bonus points on exams is OK, and legitimate because it is assessing student knowledge, which is directly related to our purpose: - student learning. Too much EC can artifically raise grades, create disputes about the grading process, potentially arouse dissatisfaction among stronger students who feel slighted by the apparent "giving away" of points that they've worked hard to earn, and subjectivity in grading by the instructor. It's for these reasons I choose not to go down that road.
Barry Westling
Kimberly,
I'm with you. There are probably exceptions that are valid, but I think giving too much EC contributes more to points and grades, and little to do with real learning.
Barry Westling
I work in a program where the other instructors allow EC that makes up a large portion of the student's grade. Then the students have the opportunity to "slack off" on getting good grades throghout the semester because they can make it up at the end.
One of my students did poorly on all of his assignments and then hoped to do an EC project to make it up. I have to be honest, I was annoyed.
I offer a couple of EC questions on my exams. It allows the student to show me what they know and if my teaching is effective. They may have missed a few questions on the test, but at least they got the EC question. It makes them feel good that they got EC and encourages them to strive hard the entire course.
I do not support the idea of extra credit and I do not offer it. The student is provided with clear expectations of the course in the beginning and the emphasis should be placed on fulfilling those requirements alone.
Sundeep,
I agree. For me, I just choose to reward them with something other than points that will be used in calculating their grade. Recognition, showing off their project, having them read their paper, allowing the class to see that extra effort was put in. That kind of thing is more valuable in terms of acknowledgement of a job well done. I don't give EC for points.
Barry Westling
I think EC should only be given if the students complete all homework and in class assignments. Students who work had and put that extra time and effort in class should be rewarded
Stephen,
It's an institutional policy, which many institutions are finding (for legal reasons I suspect) they cannot approve as they are required to show objective measurement of student learning in required topics. EC can be subjective, rules for grading arbitrary, not available to all students, risk of claims of "unfair", and the premise that submission of graded work that is not required is substituted for graded work that is required doesen't sit well with most teachers. I like to foster independent activity, but I give peer recognition as the reward, not points that count towards a grade. EC is about points and grades, and less to do with student learning.
Barry Westling
Stephen,
I enourage students to demonstrate the above and beyond attitude, with non-required projects, papers, or activities, but I don't award them credit that counts tiowards their grade, but I do reward them them with something as valuable: peer recognition. When students are singled out for ememplary effort, that makes the student feel recognized and appreciated, the class benefits by whatever the content of their work is, and other students learn that they may want that same kind of recognition. But I do not give EC points that will contribute to their grade because there are being graded on esssential material I determine is mandatory. I cannot have students weak or uninformed in one or more critical areas, then make up for it by an EC assignment that may have little to do with learning anything new. I think that is called grade inflation.
Barry Westling
At the college where I teach, there is a "no-extra credit" policy in place because it is deemed that offering extra credit can be subjective. Is this the same reason why you do not have extra credit available where you work?
