Hi Nathan- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a very thoughtful approach as you plan your assessments. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I like to create my own assessments for each unit's course material. I use it in conjunction with the quizzes in the residential masters to enhance learning.
Hi Mark - Thanks for your post to the forum.You metion something we see regularly - the student who thinks that getting the right answer should be all that is required. Actually understanding the process is more important ultimately. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
We do a lot of lab work and if I notice a student not working or copying someone elses work I will pull them aside to let them know that they are being assesed all the time and just because they hand the work in and it looks like everyone elses it does not mean their grade will. This gives them the opertunity to rethink what they are doing and actually learn something. Some students feel that their grade should solely be based on their documentation not the actual work required to get the answers so as an instructor I need to be constantly assesing my students abilities so that their grade is a true reflection of their ability.
Hi Laura- Thanks for your post to the forum. Good point- they may "know" it, but if they can't "do" it the knowledge is useless! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Due to the fact that Medical Assisting is majority of clinical applications, I try to test students frequently in a clinical setting. Many students can memorize information, but can they apply??
Asking question tessting and allowing the students to share their lesson observation allows them to show what they have learned.
Hi Ron - Thanks for your post to the forum. By sking students to explain the logic behind their models, you also ensure that they will be able to reproduce that model and similar models in the future. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In my Business Analysis class I have the students explain how and why they constructed their models verbally to me while I review their work. In this way, it is not enough to simply get the right solution, but one needs to understand the logic behind the approah.
Hi Arthur- Thanks for your post to the forum. I must say that I am very impressed with your classroom strategy. When students know that they MUST come to class prepared and have to produce work to ensure that preparation, they will, as you mention, be able to participate in the discussion. This results in an engaged class, sharing and receiving information, which makes lecture really not needed. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In most courses I teach, I employ student writing throughout the course. The assignments are no longer than 2 pages max (learning to write for the business environment) and I require the student to assess and evaluate the topic against the course material and their own experience. All these assignments require knowledge of the course material (usually the text chapter in question) and the application of higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Aside the requirements that the writing is topic specific, written well, no structural errors, APA, etc. I am most interested in their opinion and their reasoning behind it. I then use their writing experience as the catalyst for engaged discussion of the material during the class time. I don't like lecturing nor do they. With this approach, they are very prepared to discuss the subject. They have thought at length and written on the subject before we come to class. The classes are very dynamic and personal. The assignments are usually worth up to 50% of their overall grade for the course.
I like to give additional assessments to help them problem solve or think like they would when actually out in their field.
How would you give patient's instructions and patient education? How would you cover the information and know that they have understood the materials? Presenting their findings makes them more comfortable talking in front of people they don't know and makes it less intimidating. So it not only prepares them for on their feet thinking but their anxiety about speaking to or infront of people they don't know or know well.
Hi Robyn - Absolutely - Math is a discipline that requires instructors to regularly check for understanding so that students who are lost don't fall further behind. Susan
I am always using CATS in my math classes. It gives me a way for seeing who is understanding the math and who is not.Then I can help one on one those who do not understand.
Demonstrate back the content, or verbal communication
Hi Wilmer- Thanks for your post to the forum. We all encounter students with basic skills deficiences and as you mention, they can do the work, but are at a disadvantage because they will be continually faced with having to read directions, procedures etc. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
A skill application test can be useful in assessing students with reading issues. They can do the work, but struggle with reading and writing.
Wilmer Martin
HI Dean - thanks for your post to the forum. I am also a great proponent of group projects for the reason you cite. Asking students to produce a short paper also reinforces the writing/communication skills that they will need. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
One could have a debate and evaluate them on how well they communicated their idea. There doesn't always have to be a written test.
Group assignments teach the dynamic of working with others and dealing with items outside of your control that will effect your perceived performance. Short papers are another way to see if the students comprehend the concepts being taught and whether they can put them into readable form.
