Re: grading schemes

["RAUBER, JOEL" <JOEL_RAUBER@SDSTATE.EDU>]

Let me add my voice of concurrence.  I might add that one can interpret the
chance for extra credit to be to the detriment of the work ethic; at least
the work ethic of doing the work when you are supposed to be doing it.

Joel Rauber

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Edmiston [mailto:edmiston@BLUFFTON.EDU]
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 2:03 PM
> To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
> Subject: Re: grading schemes
>
>
> I have been speaking against extra credit for years.  Rick
> Tarara's post is
> exactly congruent with what I experience with students coming into my
> college physics courses from "good" high schools.  Rick expresses my
> sentiments quite well... thanks.
>
>
> Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.              Phone/voice-mail:
>   419-358-3270
> Professor of Chemistry & Physics        FAX:
>   419-358-3323
> Chairman, Science Department            E-Mail
> edmiston@bluffton.edu
> Bluffton College
> 280 West College Avenue
> Bluffton, OH 45817
>
>
>
> We've discussed the 'extra credit' problem before, but to
> summarize the
> concern many of us have:
>
> 1)  Students are coming out of High School with straight As
> who are really B
> and even C students.  They have supplemented their 'less than
> perfect' grasp
> of the material and half-formed skills with EXTRA CREDIT.
> 2)  In most college classes, these students now perform at
> their 'root'
> level, B or C.  While they beg for 'extra credit', such is
> not built into
> most of our syllabi (nor should it be).
> 3)  The students are often frustrated and discouraged--"I've
> always been an
> A student" they argue, and of course the reason they are now
> getting the B
> or C is OUR FAULT!
>
>
> IMO, while extra credit is not a bad thing in itself, it
> should not be used
> to allow students to raise their grades to the A level when their
> demonstrated knowledge/skill is below that level.  It does
> both the student
> and their future instructors a disservice.  Grades, to be
> useful, need to
> reflect more than a 'work-ethic'.
>
> Richard W. Tarara