We have a no-extra credit policy in the college where I teach. I was told by my administrative superiors that it is because offering extra credit can be subjective; however, this is not my personal belief. I believe that offering extra credit can reward students who wish to do extra projects or display "above & beyond" amounts of successful mastery of course content.
Clare,
I feel if material is important, it should be covered and the appropraite points awarded for it. Otherwise you may have students not learning some needed information, but making up for it with extra credit that may or may not be useful in meeting the course goals. I understand, though that each instructor and institution has to decide what works best for them.
Barry Westling
Extra credit is available throughout the entire course. I discuss the ways to get extra credit points when I hand out the syllabus at the beginning. Periodically I remind them that there are opportunities to gain extra points. There are still some people who do not take advantage of this, while others earn the maximum points available. Most of the time, the extra credit points do help raise the student's final grade and often push them up into the next letter grade when they are close. Since extra credit points are associated with one of the assignments in the course, they are added in with the total grades. It is always the student's choice to participate or not.
Mary,
Good. I think recognition for good work (games, extra work, outstanding performane) is terrific, and we should look for ways to do more of that. But points for grades, as in EC, not for me.
Barry Westling
My college forbids the use of extra credit, as well. And I'm behind that decision 100%. I will occasionally use review games in class as a way to help students feel recognized for their learning progress.
Andrea,
Right, and I agree. Some instructors or institutions have fixed policies, others just have to decide for themselves what bis best for their students.
Barry Westling
I do not agree with extra credit to boost final grades. This depreciates the value of the curriculum.
Ivan,
I just don't offer EC at all. My past poor experiences with demonstrate EC has more to do with points and grades than student learning. But each instructor and institution has to decide what works best for themselves.
Barry Westling
Melissa,
For me, I just choose to avoid the problems with EC and not give it. I'll sometimes give a bonus question on an exam. I've also dropped the lowest quiz score when I have a lot of quizes. Perhaps this is semantics, but "bonus" activities like this are related to learning, while I think most EC activities are not.
Barry Westling
Don't create extra credit assignments that the educational value is not equivalent to the student or teacher effort involved.
I go back on forth on extra credit and if it should be used. I think if I were to offer it, it would be used to determine what grade to give a student if they were on the line. Do I round up or down on the grade.
I find that most students who do extra credit are the students who really don't need it. Or students only do it at the very end of the course if they know they may not make the grade.
In life you really aren't given extra credit. I would much rather have students focus on the key items covered, then know they can do bad in one area and then do extra credit to make up the difference.
I seldom offer this option.
Aldorey,
I'm with you. EC for credit has little real benefit to student learning. I will allow EC, but I don't give academic credit, rather "class recognition" which is psychologically more important than grades to most students. So, if they want to do something for the educational benefit, I encourage that. But it won't be reflected in their grade (apart from the probale higher grade these students generally earn anyway).
Barry Westling
I don't give extra credit in class. Some of the student rely on extra credit. As one of my policy "NO Extra Credit." I believe that all the points in class student should work hard for it. Students are the one who makes their own grades, instructors are instruments. The student should work hard for their grade if he/she wants an "A" in the class. As an instructor, I don't want the student to rely on extra credit and pass the class I want them to be responsible and accountable in everything they do. They have to earn it!
Tiffany,
Personally, I don't allow EC because it usually has little to do with real learning and mostly to do with points and grades. I work in a medical profession. I cannot tolerate some "A" student who cannot perform procedures correctly or has an incomplete or inacurate understanding of their job duties. Perhaps in some settings EC has a place, but not in my classes.
Barry Westling
I believe extra credit should be given to those who put an actual effort into passing their course and simply need a little extra help.
Bonnie,
Preachin' to the choir. I'll admit there may be some situations where it's approriate, but in most acdemic-oriented settings I'm involved with, it has no place.
Barry Westling
I agree. Extra credit only tells the student to give substandard work because the instrutor is willing to give extra credit at a later date. Students need to be repsonsible for all work up front. No extra credit here...
Dr. Rogers
Diane,
I agree. I choose not to give EC, but understand different classes, instructors, and institutions may have differing opinions. Basically, EC is about points and grades, and less to do with real, practical learning. Busy work is usually not helpful to the learning process for adults.
Barry Westling
I feel as though giving extra credit assignments decreases the accountability of students to the assigned coursework and we enable students to find workarounds when there are less desirable assignments given. In addition this allows a student who is marginal to pass a class that they have not met the minimum requirements for.
Lima,
I generally don't use EC because of numerous past bad experiences. Each institution and instructor has to decide what works best for them.
Barry Westling
