Requirements for students who want to do Restricted Extra Credit: You must have at least 11 HP to be eligible for Bonus Quests!
Deadline: Note that all Quests must be turned in by the last day of class. (So before Finals.)
There are no requirements for Open Quests. These are usually Spanish Club Activities, as announced on Blackboard.
OJO: The total number of XP you can receive for a semester from Quests cannot exceed 5% of the maximum number of XP possible in a course for that class (see the course Syllabus). (e.g. if your course's maximum number of XP is 2000, then you cannot earn more than 100 XP from Quests.)
Here are the Quests opportunities that are currently available:
Approved Quests:
- Report an Issue (bug) with a Course. (No limit. Open Quest.)
There are no requirements for Open Quests. These are usually Spanish Club Activities, as announced on Blackboard.
OJO: The total number of XP you can receive for a semester from Quests cannot exceed 5% of the maximum number of XP possible in a course for that class (see the course Syllabus). (e.g. if your course's maximum number of XP is 2000, then you cannot earn more than 100 XP from Quests.)
Here are the Quests opportunities that are currently available:
Approved Quests:
- Report an Issue (bug) with a Course. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Only bugs reported after a class officially starts will be considered for XP.
- Before you report an issue, please look through the announcements on Blackboard to see if anyone else has already reported this issue.
- If no one else has already reported the issue, please report the issue using this link.
- To be eligible for XP, the issue cannot be something that is inherently temporary (e.g. Blackboard being down.)
- Your report must be detailed (so that I can clearly understand what the problem is and where it is located.)
- If applicable, the inclusion of screenshots would be very much appreciated.
- Once I have confirmed the issue, I will reward you the XP and email you to let you know.
- You will receive 10 XP for each bug you are the first to properly report.
- Attend Spanish Game Night. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Attend Spanish Table. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Use one of the Free Tutoring Options. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Propose a MAGE. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Spanish use: You must actually speak in Spanish during Spanish Game Night to get credit.
- Attendance: Make sure that Dr. Wendorf has recorded your name and that you are there for my class so that you can get your credit.
- You will receive 10 XP for each time you attend and actively participate in Spanish Game Night.
- You will receive 10 XP for each time you attend and actively participate in Spanish Game Night.
- Attend Spanish Table. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Spanish use: You must actually speak in Spanish during Spanish Table to get credit.
- Attendance: Make sure that the facilitator has recorded your name and that you are there for my class so that you can get your credit.
- You will receive 10 XP for each time you attend and actively participate in Spanish Table.
- You will receive 10 XP for each time you attend and actively participate in Spanish Table.
- Use one of the Free Tutoring Options. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Spanish use: You must actually use the tutor for tutoring to get credit. For example - studying for a test, practicing a grammar point, etc.
- Duration: The tutoring session must last at least 15 minutes.
- Report: If you are using one of the local tutors, please have them email me to confirm your tutoring session so that I can give you credit. In their email they should mention what you worked on. If you used tutor.com, please take a screenshot which includes a chat message from the tutor confirming that they worked with you on something for at least 15 minutes. In their message it should indicate what you worked on.
- You will receive 10 XP for each time you meet with a tutor.
- You will receive 10 XP for each time you meet with a tutor.
- Propose a MAGE. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- MAGEs are online tools that provide a randomly generated game environment for the purpose of language practice in a communicative environment in the classroom.
- You can see several examples of MAGEs created by Dr. Agon here.
- If you find a MAGE that is NOT on Dr. Agon's page, you can submit a link to it here and you will still receive the minimum credit for it.
- If you are submitting a new idea, your idea must be clearly explained and must be original.
- To be acceptable, your proposal must meet the following requirements:
- It must be for a language practice activity (think of the different grammar and vocabulary points we are covering / have covered in class. What kind of game could we play as a class with them?)
- It must be communicative, which means that the players must have to use the language, there can't just be a right or wrong answer, there needs to be guessing or something involved. (Like Guess Who?)
- It must be for a game / activity that can be played by the entire class with the content on one central screen (projector screen).
- The content must be randomizable (e.g. a grid of random pictures).
- The content on the screen should be language-independent (e.g. only pictures)
- It cannot be a MAGE that has already been created.
- You will receive 10 - 50 XP for each proposed MAGE that meets these requirements. The exact amount received will depend on my subjective evaluation of the merit of your idea.
- Review a product or business online in Spanish. (Limit 2 per semester. Bonus Quest.)
- Give a public presentation in Spanish, or about a Hispanic topic. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- Create an Interactive Fiction that uses exclusively grammar and vocabulary covered up to this point this semester. (No limit. Bonus Quest.)
- With a partner or small group, watch a movie dubbed in Spanish or read a book in Spanish. Then, make a video of you all discussing the movie or book in Spanish. (No limit. Bonus Quest.)
If you have an idea for another Extra Credit opportunity you think I should offer, keep in mind that I will only consider ideas that meet the following requirements:
Requirements for Quests:
1. Language Use: The activity must require an appropriate amount of use of Spanish (e.g. not much for foundational Spanish courses, a lot for intermediate and advanced Spanish courses.)
2. Beneficial: The activity must benefit the learner (contribute to enjoyment of the language/lifelong learning), the local community, and/or the university.
3. Verifiable: There must be a way to verify that a student has completed the activity (e.g. a sign-in sheet).
4. Free: The activity cannot require expense on the part of the learner or the instructor.
5. No Double Dipping: This cannot be an activity that is being completed for any other course at the university.
6. Universality: The activity must be one that can be completed with equal ease by all students.
Here are some ideas that I'm considering, but haven't yet approved:
Considered Quests:
- There are no submitted ideas currently under consideration. If you have an idea, submit it!
Here are some ideas that I have rejected:
Rejected Quests:
- Homework-like activities. These do not comply with Beneficial. Basically all they do is give me more to grade. I highly encourage doing these types of activities in order to help you master the language, but they have no other value. (Examples include making a family tree, researching a Spanish-speaking country, and writing an essay.)
- Create a social media profile in Spanish. This does not comply with Beneficial. Who would visit your social media site in Spanish when they can just visit your "real" site in English?
This post is primarily a place for my own students to make suggestions; but I welcome any and all comments and suggestions!
*If the product on Amazon is not an explicitly Spanish product, then you may need to write your review in English and then underneath (in the same review) write it in Spanish.
- Pre-approval: You must email me beforehand with the following:
- A link to the site where you wish to make the review (e.g. a product's page on Amazon*, Best Buy, Walmart, etc., or a local business, school, church, etc. through Google or Yahoo, etc.)
- The id under which you will be making the review.
- After you get approval, do the review:
- Your review must contain grammar and/or vocabulary from the target quiz or test.
- You may NOT use an online translator or help from another person in writing your review. (Though you are allowed to have someone help you proof-read it AFTER you have written it.)
- Your review must be of sufficient quality (this will be subjectively determined by myself).
- Span 1113 reviews should be at least 50 words long. Span 1123 reviews should be at least 100 words long. Span 2*** reviews should be at least 200 words long. Span 3*** and Span 4*** reviews should be at least 400 words long.
- Span 1113 reviews should be at least 50 words long. Span 1123 reviews should be at least 100 words long. Span 2*** reviews should be at least 200 words long. Span 3*** and Span 4*** reviews should be at least 400 words long.
- Content may not be "borrowed" or translated.
- You must complete the review at least a week before classes end.
- After the review:
- Email me the link to the review.
- If your review is approved you will earn 20 XP.
- Email me the link to an online Spanish music video of a song that was originally created and popularized in English. (Limit 5 per semester. Bonus Quest.)
- Videos must be freely available and must not require a special account in order to view them.
- Songs must be sung in Spanish.
- Songs must have captions in Spanish.
- Songs must have captions in English of translations of Spanish captions.
- Songs must have captions in Spanish.
- Songs must have captions in English of translations of Spanish captions.
- Videos and music must be of professional quality.
- Videos and lyrics must be rated PG (e.g. modest dress code and no suggestive dancing).
- Links to videos already on the list "Canciones con capciones en ambos idiomas" on this page will not be approved (but feel free to find ones for any of the other lists of songs!)
- In your email you must mention one phrase sung in the video and how it illustrates / is an example of something that we've covered in class.
- If your submission is approved you will earn 10 XP.
- Create, perform, and record a skit or music video in Spanish, and then post it online and caption it. (Limit 1 per semester. Bonus Quest.)
- Videos must be posted in a public forum so they are easily accessible by the general public without the need to create an account (e.g. on YouTube as "public").
- Videos must be between 2 and 4 minutes in length.
- Captions must contain at least 222 words in Spanish, must match what is said/sung, and must contain good grammar and vocabulary.
- The video and transcript must be PG.
- You must email me a link to the video on YouTube, along with a note explaining how something we have covered in class is present in the video.
- The student(s) wanting the extra credit must speak/sing in the video. Extra credit will be divided up by me among the students according to how much of the speaking/singing they did. (e.g. if one student did 60% of the talking, one did 10%, and one did 50%, that is how I will divide up the extra credit.)
- The video must be easily understood and of sufficient quality. (As determined subjectively by myself.)
- Copying appropriate skits/music videos is perfectly acceptable, as long as that particular skit/music video doesn't already exist in Spanish. (e.g. skits from Studio C, Brian Regan, Saturday Night Live, etc.)
- What is said must make sense. (i.e. The ¿Qué hora es? videos and the First Semester of Spanish - Spanish Love Song would not qualify.)
- If your skit is approved you can earn up to 50 XP for each participant (depending on quality).
- Videos must be between 2 and 4 minutes in length.
- Captions must contain at least 222 words in Spanish, must match what is said/sung, and must contain good grammar and vocabulary.
- The video and transcript must be PG.
- You must email me a link to the video on YouTube, along with a note explaining how something we have covered in class is present in the video.
- The student(s) wanting the extra credit must speak/sing in the video. Extra credit will be divided up by me among the students according to how much of the speaking/singing they did. (e.g. if one student did 60% of the talking, one did 10%, and one did 50%, that is how I will divide up the extra credit.)
- The video must be easily understood and of sufficient quality. (As determined subjectively by myself.)
- Copying appropriate skits/music videos is perfectly acceptable, as long as that particular skit/music video doesn't already exist in Spanish. (e.g. skits from Studio C, Brian Regan, Saturday Night Live, etc.)
- What is said must make sense. (i.e. The ¿Qué hora es? videos and the First Semester of Spanish - Spanish Love Song would not qualify.)
- If your skit is approved you can earn up to 50 XP for each participant (depending on quality).
- Give a public presentation in Spanish, or about a Hispanic topic. (No limit. Open Quest.)
- You must get approval ahead of time for your presentation to count.
- Possibilities include presenting at the Visions Conference, Undergraduate Research Day, etc.
- You must provide confirmation that you will be presenting by emailing a copy of the program.
- Afterwards, you must provide confirmation that you actually presented by emailing a picture of you giving your presentation.
- You can get up to 50 XP for each presentation (depending on the nature of your presentation.)
- Possibilities include presenting at the Visions Conference, Undergraduate Research Day, etc.
- You must provide confirmation that you will be presenting by emailing a copy of the program.
- Afterwards, you must provide confirmation that you actually presented by emailing a picture of you giving your presentation.
- You can get up to 50 XP for each presentation (depending on the nature of your presentation.)
- Create an Interactive Fiction that uses exclusively grammar and vocabulary covered up to this point this semester. (No limit. Bonus Quest.)
- You must get approval ahead of time for your Interactive Fiction idea (where it will be hosted, what the story will be about).
- The resulting activity must be freely accessible online without having to create an account. For example, on Twine.
- The grammar and vocabulary employed in the Interactive Fiction must be thoroughly proofed.
- The story must be engaging.
- After you have finished creating the Interactive Fiction, you must email me the link. I will play it at least twice, choosing different options.
- You must also allow me to see all the content (everything you wrote). This can be by giving me direct access to the Interactive Fiction, or by providing me with a blueprint for it.
- You can get up to 50 XP or for each Interactive Fiction you prepare (depending on its quality and how big it is.)
- The resulting activity must be freely accessible online without having to create an account. For example, on Twine.
- The grammar and vocabulary employed in the Interactive Fiction must be thoroughly proofed.
- The story must be engaging.
- After you have finished creating the Interactive Fiction, you must email me the link. I will play it at least twice, choosing different options.
- You must also allow me to see all the content (everything you wrote). This can be by giving me direct access to the Interactive Fiction, or by providing me with a blueprint for it.
- You can get up to 50 XP or for each Interactive Fiction you prepare (depending on its quality and how big it is.)
- You must email me a list of who will be participating and the book or movie you will be doing for permission ahead of time.
- Videos must be posted in a public forum so they are easily accessible by the general public without the need to create an account (e.g. on YouTube as "public").
- Your discussion should last at least one minute for each participant. (e.g. if there are two of you, it should last at least 2 minutes).
- Each person seeking extra credit should participate equally in the discussion.
- Each person must mention at least one interesting thing about the Spanish used in the movie or book.
- The amount of extra credit awarded will be decided on an individual basis, based on their participation in the video.
- The discussion must be entirely in Spanish, though if the book or movie used names in English, those are permitted.
- The discussion should be that, a discussion. The participants should not read from a script or notes. They can practice ahead of time and briefly refer to notes, but the video itself should not have any reading.
- All participants must be fully visible during the entire video. (Overlays are acceptable.)
- The video must be PG, even if the original book or movie is not.
- The video and audio must be of sufficiently high quality (as determined subjectively by myself.)
- Optional: Inclusion of carefully edited captions will result in more extra credit. (Email me info on who did them.)
- Once the video is ready, email me the link.
- You can get up to 20 XP or for each participant for each for each movie / book discussion video you prepare (depending on its quality and how much you contribute to the discussion.)
- Your discussion should last at least one minute for each participant. (e.g. if there are two of you, it should last at least 2 minutes).
- Each person seeking extra credit should participate equally in the discussion.
- Each person must mention at least one interesting thing about the Spanish used in the movie or book.
- The amount of extra credit awarded will be decided on an individual basis, based on their participation in the video.
- The discussion must be entirely in Spanish, though if the book or movie used names in English, those are permitted.
- The discussion should be that, a discussion. The participants should not read from a script or notes. They can practice ahead of time and briefly refer to notes, but the video itself should not have any reading.
- All participants must be fully visible during the entire video. (Overlays are acceptable.)
- The video must be PG, even if the original book or movie is not.
- The video and audio must be of sufficiently high quality (as determined subjectively by myself.)
- Optional: Inclusion of carefully edited captions will result in more extra credit. (Email me info on who did them.)
- Once the video is ready, email me the link.
- You can get up to 20 XP or for each participant for each for each movie / book discussion video you prepare (depending on its quality and how much you contribute to the discussion.)
If you have an idea for another Extra Credit opportunity you think I should offer, keep in mind that I will only consider ideas that meet the following requirements:
Requirements for Quests:
1. Language Use: The activity must require an appropriate amount of use of Spanish (e.g. not much for foundational Spanish courses, a lot for intermediate and advanced Spanish courses.)
2. Beneficial: The activity must benefit the learner (contribute to enjoyment of the language/lifelong learning), the local community, and/or the university.
3. Verifiable: There must be a way to verify that a student has completed the activity (e.g. a sign-in sheet).
4. Free: The activity cannot require expense on the part of the learner or the instructor.
5. No Double Dipping: This cannot be an activity that is being completed for any other course at the university.
6. Universality: The activity must be one that can be completed with equal ease by all students.
Here are some ideas that I'm considering, but haven't yet approved:
Considered Quests:
- There are no submitted ideas currently under consideration. If you have an idea, submit it!
Here are some ideas that I have rejected:
Rejected Quests:
- Homework-like activities. These do not comply with Beneficial. Basically all they do is give me more to grade. I highly encourage doing these types of activities in order to help you master the language, but they have no other value. (Examples include making a family tree, researching a Spanish-speaking country, and writing an essay.)
- Create a social media profile in Spanish. This does not comply with Beneficial. Who would visit your social media site in Spanish when they can just visit your "real" site in English?
This post is primarily a place for my own students to make suggestions; but I welcome any and all comments and suggestions!
*If the product on Amazon is not an explicitly Spanish product, then you may need to write your review in English and then underneath (in the same review) write it in Spanish.
