There are two ways to create extra credit items for a course in Brightspace. One option is creating the item in the gradebook. This method should be used when you do not want students to submit an item but you would like to provide points. The other option is to create a submittable item, and then turn the item into extra credit.
Create an Extra Credit Item in the Gradebook
1. To create an extra credit item for your course, start by clicking Grades in the navbar.2. Next, click Manage Grades. Click the New button and then click Item from the drop-down menu.
3. Click the Numeric option as the grade item type.
4. Configure the "New Item" section settings including the extra credit name in the properties tab. You do not need to check the "Can Exceed" checkbox for the item because you will check it in the category you create or apply in the next steps.
5. Ensure the "Bonus" checkbox is selected, or the item you create will not be considered extra credit and will be counted in the gradebook as a graded item.
6. If you have not already created an extra credit category, you should make one at this point as it will help you troubleshoot errors with points in your gradebook. For more information about creating categories, reference Set up the Gradebook in Brightspace. To use an existing category, choose the category from the drop-down menu under the "Category" section, or create a new category by clicking [New Category].
7. To make the category extra credit, ensure the "Can Exceed" checkbox is checked, allowing the category to exceed the maximum number of points. Click Save, then click Save and Close.
8. The extra credit item is now within the extra credit category. Note that "Extra Credit Item #1" has a star next to it; this means the item is considered a bonus and is not part of the gradebook.
Create a Submittable Item as Extra Credit
1. To create a submittable item as extra credit for your course, start by clicking Content in the navbar.
2. Click the Create New button to create a new unit to contain the extra credit items, or click the Add Existing button to add the extra credit items to an existing unit. For details about creating a new unit, reference Add a New Unit to a Brightspace Course. In this example, a new unit was created and named "Extra Credit." After selecting the unit, click the Create New button from the unit.
3. Select Assignment.
4. Configure the assignment settings based on your preferences, following the same process as creating a standard assignment. For more information about creating an assignment, reference Add a New Activity to Brightspace. Click the Save and Close button once the assignment settings are configured.
5. Once the assignment is created, start moving the item to an extra credit category by clicking Grades from the navbar, then Manage Grades. Click the arrow next to the assignment name and then click Edit from the drop-down menu.
6. Select the category the assignment should be moved to from the drop-down menu under the "Category" section, or create a new category by clicking [New Category]. For more information about creating categories, reference Set up the Gradebook in Brightspace.
7. Ensure the Bonus option is checked otherwise it will not be considered extra credit. Click the Save and Close button.
8. The submittable item is now within the extra credit category. The star indicates that the item is considered a bonus and is not part of the gradebook.