Extra credit should only be awarded for going
over and above the required level of achievement
not ot simply give points. Also there should
be a meningful learning exrerience involved.
J. E. Wright
Kenny,
I think bonus or incentive points are OK in most cases as they add little to the overall grade and are based on knowledge obtained from class lessons.
Barry Westling
Gary,
For me, I have not found EC to be effective in motivating students (unless one considers motivation to gain extra points an effective form of learning). If it's not related to learning I prefer to not go into those murky waters.
Barry Westling
Anissa,
For me, I want objectivity and fairness in all aspects of my instruction, including the grading policy and process. I find it very difficult to fairly and objectively involve extra credit in my grading policies, although I recognize others may.
Barry Westling
Patricia,
Right! And this this is aligned with success-driven instruction. In the workplace, extra credit doesn't exist and I suggest it should not in the classroom either.
Barry Westling
The only real extra credit that I give is when we are taking a test, we play a Jeopardy review game. The winning team will get 3 bonus points on their exam. Gives them incentive to work together to get extra points on their exam.
To help bring up grades and help motivate the student.
Extra credit can be a tricky subject. It can't be a replacement for actual work. It has it place for individuals that have been doing their work and may have fallen behind due to a ailment or family situation. Unless a score of more than 100 can be assessed in the course, extra credit is just a means of replacing earnable scores that were not obtained from previous work.
I used to give extra credit assignments (when I first started teaching). I no longer give extra credit. I want the students to focus on the learning objectives and criteria they need to meet in order to be successful in my class. I found when I did give extra credit assignments that students would "slack" on the regular assignments and make up the work through doing the extra credit. I do not think this is fair to the students who are diligent about doing the assignments AND I find it does not effectively teach the students who turn in only extra credit assignments.
Hi Marvin,
Great. I think the majority of teachers (and institutions) would share your sentiments. Especially pertinent for career fields or programs where the outcome is a specific job. There's usually no extra credit at work!
Barry Westling
i do not feel that extra credit has a place in my field of instruction. Our students come here to learn a specific trade and im here to teach that to them, not to hold their hands and baby them to a passing grade. if they apply themselves the information is very easily recieved, and one on one tutoring for those whom are having trouble is always an option but everyone gets the same amount of credit and no more or less.
Hi Clive,
My experience has been less than wonderful with EC. I have received accusations of "unfair", or "grade inflation". The inequity between strong students who do not need the points and students who have done poorly wanting extra points diminishes the integrity of the course grading system. Our classes should be about learning. Extra credit has mostly to do with grades and points (irrespective of any learning that may occur).
Barry Westling
Extra credit has its pro and cons. If students knows that there is available extra credits , some students may not make the effort to learn.
Hi Mitessa,
I agree. We want learning, not just beeter grades. I also like to give additional assignments, but that is for the students benefit - there is no extra grade for that.
Barry Westling
Not really too fond of extra credit. Student should be proactive about there grade from the start of the term. I will provide extra activities that enhance their knowledge of the testing material. Its beneficial, but awarding extra credit tends to create a "crutch"
Hi Joseph,
Yes, students should earn grades. This sort of relates to the grading system used and how points are awarded for each componet (quiz, homework, project, mid-term, final exam, discussion, etc). I believe these should all be established at the beginning of a course. Good students will strive to earn all the legitimate points they can. I've had students argue I was was unfair giving points beyond what was established in the beginning. For me, I just avoid the EC thing all together, and let the students earn their points and let they grades fall where they may.
Barry Westling
After completing the course, I believe that I've had a course-correction of my own. I now believe that it should lend itself more towards those who are already making-the-grade, and are really looking for improvement, rather than towards the students who are the push-me-and-I'll-go type. As I worked on the course, I realized that I had reversed the extra-credit and make-up-work in certain situations. Understanding the roles that each should play within the scheme of things, will allow me to handle those type of situations better in the future. As far as the role of extra-credit towards the final grade goes, it should be just that - "Extra" - Earned by those willing to devote the time & effort into becomming even more professional. After all, we don't "Give" grades. Students have to "Earn" them.
Hi Mitessa,
Additional study or projects or assignments that increase the students knowledge are awesome activities, it's the awarding of credit for them that can become subjective, viewed as unfaire by stronger and weaker students, and however it's sliced, does add to grade inflation. As always, each teacher and institution has to decide what works best for them.
Barry Westling
It should have very little and geared more toward additional projects that students want to do to enhance their knowledge not improve their grade average.
Hi Sara,
You're right. Reinforcing responsibility and holding students accountable for their assignments (and grades) is an indication of study, effort, character, responsiveness, sacrifice, scholarship and merit. EC mostly diminshes these important attributes.
Barry Westling
