tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17577430.post116203763563271068..comments2024-03-17T02:17:34.680-05:00Comments on Philosophy Factory: Extra Credit...Inside the Philosophy Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12255753259090709877noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17577430.post-1168919546074275592007-01-15T21:52:00.000-06:002007-01-15T21:52:00.000-06:00The question of extra credit should be framed in t...The question of extra credit should be framed in the context of the final grade an its meaning. Most will agree that the final grade should be a measure of a student's level of competence in the subject matter outlined by their instructor.<BR/><BR/>Extra credit is often free points added to the numerator of the final ratio of earned points to total possible. If your instruments (tests, papers, assignments) are measures of ability you have totally biased the final grade upwards with the addition of "extra credit." It is no longer a level playing field if some students do not do the extra assignment. <BR/><BR/>A professor that often does the same courses as I do gives extra credit. Some of her students do poorly on the extra credit assignment. They may get a 65% for instance. Assume this is D work and that the rest of the non-extra credit work was averaging 65%. This extra credit in her class is enough to push the student into the C range. This student was not competent or prepared for the next class in the series, but many students don't care because they know how to play to the points and get through. <BR/><BR/>The issue is the same for students at the top (B to A).<BR/><BR/>There are good motivations for giving extra credit. Alternatives such as providing oportunities for rewrites, redo exams, and EXTRA ASSIGNMENTS (that add point to both the numerator and denominator) can be utilized.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17577430.post-1162086597150266632006-10-28T20:49:00.000-05:002006-10-28T20:49:00.000-05:00This is way weird, as I was just pestering my coll...This is way weird, as I was just pestering my colleagues about whether they assign extra credit. <BR/><BR/>When I have done this in the past, I find that the students who don't need it do it! Do you find this? I have decided I am going to try to avoid it in the future in favor of letting them drop their lowest grade. That gives them a little cushion, but does not put me in the position of grading more stuff.Chaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02124246378936489539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17577430.post-1162051536384265542006-10-28T11:05:00.000-05:002006-10-28T11:05:00.000-05:00Hey IPF! I'm glad that you responded on your blog...Hey IPF! I'm glad that you responded on your blog! It sounds like 1) we have similar situations on our campus with students participating in campus life and 2) like we have very similar approaches to the idea of extra credit. Thanks for weighing in!Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.com