Is it possible to create a special Honors Project assignment for a limited group of students in a class?

[BernardMathon]

I would like to create a new category for a few students who want to do an Honors Project for a College Algebra class. Is there a way to create a special assignment for them, make it part of their overall grade, include it in their gradebook without affecting the gradebook for the rest of the class?

[Ron_Bowman]

@BernardMathon -

I believe it is possible.  There are some things that can be done.  However, information on how you have your course setup for the grading would be needed.  That is are you using points based grade book?  Are you using weighted assignment groups(percent based gradebook)?  How would the grade calculation be made for regular students and for honor students(i.e regular students: final 30%, 2 hour exams 20% each, homework 30% and honor students same for the exams, but 20% for homework and 10% for their project)

I played around with some settings for a class based on what another instructor wanted to do, and we came up with a method.  I just have to find that work.

Ron

I found the document I wrote.  In it I mention pictures, but evidently I did not put them in (or meant to create them and then add them).  In any case, it should be easy enough to follow.  The instructions listed are for a mix of graduate and undergraduate students.  In your case it will be regular and honor students.  first you will have to create a section that includes honor students and a section that is just the regular students for your class.  Then the regular students can be thought of as undergrads and honor students as grad students for the purpose of my document.

[BernardMathon]

Thank you for your feedback. I'll look into that option and let you know if it works.

Bernard

[Ron_Bowman]

@BernardMathon -

Hope it works.  I should have added information on how to create sections in your course.  You at a minimum need a section for the honors students, but you probably need a section for all the other students as well.

Instructors guide on creating sections
Insttructors guide entry for all help files on courses and sections

You may also have to create 2 versions of common assignments if the weight of their group is not the same between the two sections - i.e for homework - if it counts 30% for regular and 20% for honors you would need a group for each section and then put the same assignment in each group where each assignment has been assigned to the specific section

just incase - here is the instructors guide on creating differentiated assignments
instructors guide entry for help on assignments

Ron

[BernardMathon]

Thank you for the additional info. Will need to look into MDC's policy regarding the SIS to determine if it's possible to create sections for students getting Honors credit for a course. These students would have an Honors Project to work on in addition to the assignments they'll have in common with the rest of the class. Will follow up and get back to you.

[Ron_Bowman]

@BernardMathon -

You could have the sections created by sis if you wanted (Or if students register for an honors section of the class, then all you need to do is cross-list it into the the actual course and your sections are complete).

The information I sent you is something any instructor can do to create their own sections.  It is a way to break your course up into groups of students however you like.

Ron

[BernardMathon]

Thanks again for your responses Ron. Unfortunately, at MDC, faculty are not given the option of adding new sections to a course. I plan to contact the tech administrators to see if it can be done for my case. The students do not get to register for an Honors section for the course. That selected group of students agree to an Honors contract while enrolled in a "regular" course. They will be eligible to get Honors credit for the course upon completion of a special project. In addition, for the Honors designation to appear for the students, a proposal has to be submitted and approved by the chair of the math department and by the Honors College director. I may need to wait for that process to be finalized so that the students can be placed in the special sections...Will follow up and keep you posted.

Best,

Bernard