Turn Feedback Into Extra Credit: Introducing EvalSystem’s Grade Bonus Point Feature
Low response rates sabotage course evaluations. Research shows that when no incentive is offered, participation can plunge below 30%, but with even a small grade bonus, it can soar past 80%. ( The Learning Scientists) That insight drove our latest release: Grade Bonus Point, now live for Blackboard, Canvas, and Brightspace.
Why We Built It
- Close the Response-Rate Gap
A 70% response rate is widely cited as the minimum for representative feedback. ( talk-boisestate.atlassian.net). Bonus points are one of the few proven tactics to reach that benchmark—multiple studies confirm a jump of 40–60 percentage points when extra credit is on the table. (PubMed) - Reward Engagement, Not Spam
Instead of flooding inboxes with reminder emails, we wanted a positive, student-centered nudge that lives inside the LMS they already use. - Save Faculty & Registrar Time
Manual extra-credit workflows create grade-book chaos. Automating the award—and the reset, if needed—keeps instructors focused on teaching, not Excel gymnastics.
How It Works
- Set Bonus Value – Admin chooses any point amount (e.g., +1 quiz point per survey) per course.
- Option 1: Automatic Point Awards – The student completes the survey, and EvalSystem posts the bonus to the LMS grade book instantly.
- Option 2: Manual Review – Would you prefer to review first? Press “Award Bonus” and all eligible students receive the points.
- Reset Anytime – Need to retract or adjust? Clear the bonus and reapply in seconds—no limits, no support ticket.
All grade entries align with native LMS columns, so instructors see the same interface they already trust.
What’s in It for You
- Higher Response Rates, Fast
Early adopters of bonus-point incentives at peer institutions report consistent climbs to 70-90 % participation (Center for Teaching & Learning). - Transparent, Audit-Ready Grades
Every point is logged automatically; faculty and students can verify the addition right in the grade-book. - Zero Administrative Overhead
No CSV uploads or middle-man scripting—the credit flows through the same secure LTI channel as the evaluation itself.
Rolling It Out
- Toggle “Grade Bonus Point” in your EvalSystem admin panel.
- Choose Auto or Manual, set the point value, and map to an existing or new grade-book column.
- Publish your survey. That’s it—EvalSystem handles the rest.
Looking Ahead
Bonus points are just one lever in our mission to “fundamentally improve the way institutions collect and act on student feedback.” Coupled with pulse reminders, mobile-first design, and AI sentiment analysis, the Grade Bonus Point feature helps you hit the response-rate sweet spot without adding busywork.
Ready to try it? Contact our team or visit the knowledge base for a step-by-step setup guide. Your students get credit, your faculty get richer data, and your institution gets one step closer to truly representative feedback.