Should not be about me doing extra work. Not at this point in the semester.
I offered my WS folks an "extra credit class" for attending a function at the school tonight. Obviously those who can't make it want something, too. This is a writing intensive class and they've had so many opportunities to write that, no, I'm not offering any additional papers.
The extra credit tonight is exactly equal to the number of points they lose when they miss class. This is about community and being with people, not about more material.
What do you think?
My opinion on this is that it's extra credit, not required. You do NOT have to come up with something everyone can do because it's extra credit. It's perfectly possible to get an A in your class without going to the ec event, right?
Posted by: peripateticpolarbear | November 17, 2005 at 05:07 PM
Bad. The concept of class is (should be?) that
1) everyone has equal opportunity (no favoritism, etc)
2) people perform differently based on opportunity
3) they get grades based opn performance.
Here, you are selectively disadvantaging people who are not able to attend. Thus it is inappropriate.
The fact that "It's perfectly possible to get an A in your class without going to the ec event, right?" is entirely irrelevant, even if true. (It is also, in all likelihood, possible to get an A in your class even if you miss a class session, but that would not excuse you if you chose to randomly schedule a class when only half of your sutdents could attend.)
You are ethically obliged to offer substitute work. UNLESS, that is,the clear class policy has been that 'new assignments may come at any time and you will be penalized for missing them'.
Posted by: erik | December 19, 2005 at 12:03 PM
erik, maybe you're right.
I would, of course, go the route of no extra credit then since I'm not adding written work.
Posted by: timna | December 19, 2005 at 09:41 PM