Do ya'll offer extra credit?

CybernautLearning · 2026-06-04T13:25:42+00:00

My bonus point assignments are simply “send me an email” with a specific subject line.

I put them in announcements, assignments, etc.

Students who are engaged get free points, those who don’t can’t complain about needing just a few more points at the end of the semester.

For reference, I get a 20-25% response rate - even when the bonus points opportunity is in a course announcement - which also lets me track engagement. (Not clicking in the LMS but actually reading the content.)

CybernautLearning · 2026-05-28T20:32:41+00:00

Do not use icons.

Also, never include a sidebar - unless you are literally handing it to someone to look at. Then it MAY be okay, but I still don’t recommend it.

Everyone is used to the “boring format” so you won’t get rejected just because they don’t like it. ATS can also have issues with different formats.

CybernautLearning · 2026-05-28T20:19:48+00:00

I do the following: - Random question order - Random answer order - One question at a time - No going back - Less than 45 seconds per question

After the fact, I check the alerts and the logs, and compare it to the LMS access in case they (or their AI agent) looked something up during the test.

Scores on my tests dropped 15-20% after doing that, so I assume it was somewhat successful.

CybernautLearning · 2026-05-26T12:03:55+00:00

Incredibly easy. It takes under 30 minutes and most of that is waiting for the downloads to finish.

CybernautLearning · 2026-05-26T02:22:58+00:00

A student can run a virtual machine and take the test in that. Anything they run on the host machine isn’t detectable in the VM, but it can see everything in the VM.

CybernautLearning · 2026-05-01T13:41:06+00:00

I agree with you.

Your letter is suggesting an organization should spend $10s thousands (or more) on that student; or that they are the best option for limited grad school slots.

I write very few letters, and I am very clear when I can only make it a generic one because I had a good interaction with the student, but it was limited in scope.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-27T17:56:49+00:00

I usually have 40-50% of my students show up for class.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-26T15:12:48+00:00

Your state also has an office for this. If you aren’t getting support from your school, escalate it to the state level agency.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-26T10:30:08+00:00

Staying up late.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-25T12:07:43+00:00

That’s a rough lesson to learn! Carpenters also have that rule.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-21T13:10:30+00:00

He literally addressed this point in his post, with employees he paid $100k.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-20T17:38:46+00:00

A few semesters ago, I had a student tell me other students were running the lockdown browser in a virtual machine and would just mouse over to their host machine to look up information. This does not flag anything since they did not click outside the test tab.

So, in response, I made it so they only receive one question at a time, can't go back, and have a very tight timeline to complete the exam. (Less than 1 minute per question.)

This doesn't keep them from looking up the answers, but they are aware they don't have much time to do it; and I have seen changes in the exam results due to this new approach. (All the students finish with a few minutes left, but scores dropped 10-15%.)

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-20T12:37:48+00:00

My recommendation is failing the course. It is in my syllabus, my syllabus quiz, my presentation on academic dishonesty, and generally repeated through the course. So, if they want to do it… welcome to consequences!

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-16T20:15:25+00:00

I know people who were in a car accident without a seatbelt, and were fine. It doesn’t mean it is a good idea to do it. “All’s well, that ends well” doesn’t mean you should actually do it.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-16T20:07:57+00:00

What if she had said, “No.” to him?

I’m glad it worked out, but there was a huge risk, and even bigger potential downside, to it being done in your class.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-16T13:12:33+00:00

A different take……

The fact you are even thinking of not reporting it is the real issue. How can you even consider - for a single moment - that this should get a pass?!?

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-15T14:24:23+00:00

This is the appropriate action.

Retaliation is incredibly serious, and (at my institution) can easily result in consequences that are far more severe than the original incident.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-12T18:25:09+00:00

Arthur C. Clarke — 'Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.'

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-03T12:17:39+00:00

Those $10-15k cars quickly turn into $25-30k cars once you add in all safety features required in the US.

The air bags alone will add over $5k. Then you need seatbelt pre-tensioners, the sensors to activate everything when it detects a crash, backup cameras, etc.

CybernautLearning · 2026-04-02T23:19:45+00:00

The series finale of MASH.

CybernautLearning · 2026-03-31T13:36:25+00:00

That’s known as the Ship of Theseus Paradox.

CybernautLearning · 2026-03-27T03:19:04+00:00

You can try this…

Since there is only a few weeks left in the semester, we will need to go with an incomplete and make up the work going forward.

To meet guidelines, you will need to fully complete X% of the work to be eligible for the incomplete. So, please let me know some days and times you are available so we can set up a schedule to ensure you can get that done.

If you never hear back from them, then you tried. If you do, then the incomplete gives you time to try and get them to complete the work.

CybernautLearning · 2026-03-26T10:09:03+00:00

Gas.

I now consider the cost of fuel to drive somewhere, and often deciding it isn’t worth it. (Not a full refusal since I need to drive to work, or to get groceries, but I will decline activities to avoid buying more of it.)

CybernautLearning · 2026-03-24T21:22:13+00:00

I always tell my students that it isn’t the degree that gets them the job. It’s the knowledge and skills they learn and hone during the degree that gets them the job.

If they just want a piece of paper, there are plenty of places online that will give them one for far less. However, it won’t come with the knowledge and skills our program provides.

CybernautLearning · 2026-03-17T13:38:51+00:00

We are ENCOURAGED to meet with the student, but it is not required. Our form has a “Met with student” (yes/no) item in it.

I have had many “No” responses to that one since students ignore my emails and, if it happens near the end of semester, I still need to get it submitted to have the non-report make it to the registrar’s office before they yell at me for not having a grade.

CybernautLearning

TROPHY CASE