Teaching tip: extra credit

October 1, 2013

How you choose to use extra credit can enhance a student's learning opportunities. Whether you're for or against the use, a few simple rules will make it easier to deploy. Consider using optional quizzes over the reading material prior to the start of class to encourage students to be prepared for in-class discussion. Some students might use it as a self-assessment opportunity. This teaching tip also has a nugget (or two) about how to search for information.

Find out more at http://elearning.uaf.edu/go/tt-ec/.

Teaching tip by Janene McMahan, instructional designer at eLearning and Distance Education.

Access the teaching tip archive at http://elearning.uaf.edu/go/tt-archive/.

A teaching tips live event will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, in the Wood Center Pub. The tip will focus on, "From Gimmick to Gestalt: The Resurrection of the Animated GIF" and be presented by Christen Bouffard.

Details on the event: You've seen them before, dancing babies and bananas silently invading your inbox, tucked within the signatures of emails. They are animated GIFs and they have dutifully served as jesters of web media for nearly two decades. Those of us who remember back that far can't help but roll our eyes at their misuse. Fast forward to today and you will find that the animated GIF is enjoying a refined renaissance as journalists, artists and the content-creating public push the GIF format far beyond its conventional boundaries. Lets take a look at how the short, looping canvas of the GIF has grown up to support satire, creative expression and storytelling. Have you tried creating your own? Is it something for your class?

Other upcoming live teaching tips:

1-2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, in the Wood Center Pub - "Facilitating Discussion" with Brooke Sheridan
Learning doesn't happen in a vacuum, and promoting meaningful discussion in the classroom helps create a more dynamic and effective learning community. Come join as we talk about some ways to encourage useful student participation.

3-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Murie Auditorium - "Badging" with Dan Lasota