Barry Westling

Hi Joseph:
Many teachers and schools frown on the awarding of EC at all. It usually only helps alter grades for slaker sudents or those that have achieved lower scores overall, but doesn't contribute much to their learning.

Regards, Barry

Joshua Goreczny

I agree, even if the assignment is far above and beyond the call of duty, I feel like adding extra credit degrades the value of the regular assignments. We've all had teachers that let you make up 15-20% of the important assessments with extra projects outside of the curricular objectives.

Kathryn Duvenci

I think it depends on how the instructor grades. If they do all written exams, many students have test taking anxiety and do poorly on written exams.They may feel less stressed giving the information orally or taking an exam on line.
Whatever the student is doing or not doing on a particular exam could lead to a poor grade or failure.
A variety of ways to increase their score thru extra credit shows that the instructor knows there are different styles of learning for adults. I don't think extra credit degrades the value of the regular assignment.

Barry Westling

Hi Joshua:
I think you make a solid case for avoiding EC in most cases. I say "Learning" vs "Earning" (points).

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi Kathryn:
I like the recognition of different learning styles, and I don't think adjusting grades in and of itself is wrong. My opinion is the giving away points for assignments not required in lieu or substutution for assignments that are required.

I don't think extra credit degrades the value of assignments. But there is no doubt that it can contribute to grade inflation, which tends to diminish the value of the hard work good students have demomstrated and (perhaps unfairly) gives credit to students who have not performed well (not due to learning style) for making up missed assignments, late work, or poor effort. As always, my opinion.

Regards, Barry

James Minnich

I agree to a point, but if the EC is directed by the teacher and that student is told what is expected of them I believe EC can be used as a positive. I found when I was a student, many, many, many, years ago EC was a positive for me. The extra credit work directed me to study more carefully and the research helped with the course. It did not give me a grade of triple A plus, but it did help from a - to a + in my grade.

take care,
Jim

Gary Dufner

I teach Photoshop, and I encourage students to help each other, because when a studet helps/teaches another student they are learning too. I give extra credit to students that help other students. It also helps me run the class smoother when I don't have to stop the lessons for long periods of time to help each student that has a problem.

Barry Westling

Hi Gary:
You may label this extra credit but I think it's more like class participation, or bonus activity. The way you're doing this is terrific!

To me extra credit is when students receive extra points for something they choose to do when the forego regular assignments and want to try to bring their grade up. In your case, it's a helpful, useful learning assignment. In my example it's slacker students wanting to do the minimum just to get a grade with very little learning acssociated with it. I don't give extra credit in these instances.

Regards, Barry

Barry Westling

Hi James:
I suppose it depends on how it's structured and how the teacher administers it.

Coming from a medical professions background, there are many categories that just have to be completed. There is no "padding" that';s pertinent when another's health is concerned, or where harm to a patient could result.

Extra credit is very controversial, but you can see many teachers oppose the use of it in any way.

My beef is giving slacker students who've not completed asssignments who want to do something of their choosing in substitution for the assigned work, and to receive credit for it. That's not fair to the class when all are expected to do all assignments.

Regards, Barry

Richard Sanchez

I agree that extra credit helps out the poor students in class. I only allow extra credit to those students who sat in on the lecture that day. That is part of my syllabus.

Barry Westling

Hi Richard,

Good point - extra credit, if offerred at all should ideally be given as a reward to students who deserve it, not as a method to allow unmotivated students a way to pass the course.

Regards,

Barry