Hi Daniel - Giving your students the opportunity to "look back" does allow them to see how far they have come from that statring point. this in itself is a great motivator! Best wishes - Susan
i feel like giving them kind of a critique with the subjects covered where the could rate how well they understood something and then I could go over the subjects not understood as well.
I like to use a background knowledge probe at the beginning of the class. This gives the learners and me a beginning for discussion, and adds validity to the importance and application of the material to be presented. At the end of the material presentation I ask how many have reformulated their position and why. I’ve been lucky to have the learners be excited about the next class presentation and some either research the past class material and want to share it with the class in their own language. Sometimes learners in their groups use the most effective means of communication techniques. If this is the best way for learners to store and retrieve information then all the better and it makes my evaluation process easier.
I currently do not give a CAT, but I am looking forward to using this new valuable tool.
I can use this method to see how well they understand the material before they take the test. This way I can determine what to review with the students.
When in class, I call on a student to select a "volunteer." This voolunteer comes to the front of the room with a list of the three most important concepts of the day's class and explains these ideas to the class. The class then asks questions of the student. This way I see what level of comprehension the volunteer has and how students ask questions tell me how I need to answer them.
The "volunteer" then gets to select a "volunteer" successor!
I really like the idea of the Minute Paper to help me see what students are absorbing and what they are not comprehending. I am planning to try this with my English Composition students.
Hi Dariusz- Yes, Cats can be useful in meetings as well! Best wishes! Susan
Though I do not teach a course at the moment, I do conduct faculty meetings.
I find that asking questions throughout the meeting is great way to employ the "CAT" model, in order to keep the attention of those involved and assess retention along the way.
Hi Stephen - I totally agree! Tests/Quizzes that are not reviewed with the class are, in my opinion, pretty much useless in terms of advancing learning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
It is important to review quizzes and tests for me in a group setting because this helps me understand if the students are retaining information and helps the students learn from each other as well.
Hi Nancy - I'm glad you gotten some new ideas to use in your classes! Susan
Hi Lisa- Welcome to ED 103! I think it is an excellent idea to involve students in their own evaluations. They will find that this is often the case when they get into their careers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I administer a student self-appraisal at the conclusion of each course. In addition to the usual student evaluations, which offer helpful suggestions on how I may better fulfil my role as a teacher, the self-appraisals allow the student take part in giving and in receiving feedback on his or her progress. It provides me an opportunity to open (or continue) a dialogue about the student's educational path from both an individual and professional perspective, but also allows the student to exercise his or her voice and exert ownership in this process.
I have always incorporated the minute paper in evaluating me at the end of the course. I would have students write down what worked for them, what didn't work for them, areas of improvement in the class, etc. Of course this would be anonymous. I get good ideas from the students, some of which I have used in future classes. I see now how I can further use the minute paper. I could use this at the end of each class, to see where they're at in understanding the material. It'll be a "quick and dirty" way for them to scribble down and answer on something, without stressing over it. Then, since I'll have them put their names on it, I could see if anyone is struggling or needs extra help. I would be able to catch them early on, and not let it go.
Hello,
I like how these techniques can give varied student results. (interests, know vs.don't know,drawing a conclusion, focus class attention).
I want to include in the the next day(s) lesson plan what would be beneficial to for review.
thx Gil
Hi Lucille- You are using CATs exactly! The idea is to get feedback before your students get hit with a test or exam for which they are just not prepared because they are confused or just clueless.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I can use CATs toward the end of each chapter that I teach. I can use this method to determine how well they understand the subject matter before they are tested on it. By reading what they have to say, I can determine what needs to reviewed and emphasized before the test.
I personally like using CATs to evaluate how much info. on previous lecture/demonstration is retained by students through open questions to the class or specific individuals to measure if the material taught is understood. This is a simple data verification to validate my instruction skills effectineness.
Hi Darron - Welcome to Ed 103! I know nothing about meat cutting other than my own rather pathetic attempts! Do you find that most of your students are tactile/kinestheic? Do you ever give them written asssessments? Do they have to take licensing exams also? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
