I keep talking to the students. This is a fast "hands on " course. I constantly keep track of where they are/.
I feel the one minute technique would be most useful for me. It would help me see what part of my presentation/class discussion was successful and those areas that I may need to tweak to increase student interest and understanding.
CATs allow me to adjust my techniques so that I can help the students retain and apply the information.
Hi Jennifer- thanks for your post to the forum! I agree completely - you are using CATs really well. If they are administered at the end of class and then reviewed at the start of the next class they are really effective. Best wishes - Susan
Planning at least one CAT per class time or topic and then reviewing the answers in class or in small groups is helpful. I think beginning the next class session with questions from the CAT taken in the previous class helps the students to know where they are at as far as other's knowledge and helps facilitate the questions in class.
Hi Kyle- Thanks for your post to the forum. that's a combination of visual and tactile - terrific! I ordered a skeleton to be used at my campus for some of the medical classes. It came in pieces in a big box. I knew that the head should be on top and the feet on the bottom - had to call for help with the rest! (-: Susan
I like to use labeling activities for my Anatomy class. After going throught the body part or system we have a 10 minute exercise where we label the parts and then discuss how this part is used in tthe body or system.
I plan to try and incorperate more of thes in my Live Chat session with my on-line students. I like the end of class summation of what we learned today. It will give me an idea of what they did understand and what I may need to review again in our next session.
Hi Katrina- Thanks for your post to the forum. I'm glad you like the idea of the Minute Paper - i know that you will find it very useful! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Good point! We shouldn't be afraid to ask for feedback so we can reflect on our own teaching methods. For example, their feedback would help us identify whether or not we are engaging all types of learners in our classroom.
I love the idea of the minute paper. I think that this would be useful in receiving student feedback and provide an opportunity for students to do more writing. It will help me know what areas to work on with students (regarding course material) as well as provide feedback to them on their writing ability.
Hi Mark - thanks for your post to the forum. I think that you will find the regular short quizzes very helpful. Best wishes - Susan
Hi Trudy - Thanks for your post to the forum. The questions that you are asking will help your students to understand why what they are learning is relevant to the careers they want to enter. Terrific! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Brandon - You are wise to check for comprehension at the start of each new class. There is no point in building on concepts that were not understood. The CATs will also give you some of that info in advance of the next class. Best wishes- Susan
I teach programming languages. This is in many ways similar to teaching natural languages. Getting the students to use the language frequently is the key to developing their fluency. Therefore, I have a laboratory assignment almost every day that they complete. I could do even more along these lines by having short 3 minute quizzes each day as well, which I think I will do.
I currently give the students a 5 question quiz at the beginning of class over the material we covered the day before. I will try using the minute paper at the end of class as well, this way I will be able to see what part of lecture is staying in their brains.
I have to say, that this is new information for me. When I am not teaching, I am a corporate trainer- I tend to incorporate in the classroom something I do in my training sessions that may me segue here. After a section of a lecture or the end of the class period, I seek feedback from the students. I ask questions like, "What was the most valuable piece of information you learned today?" "Of what we just discussed, tell me how you will apply what you've learned to your daily work?" or "What stands out for you from today's lecture?"
Hi Shelly- Thanks for your post to the forum which gave us a great example of the effective use of the minute paper. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
CATs can give both the instructor and the students a gauge to overall understanding of course material. If students demonstrate any struggle with the CAT, the pace of the course may be too fast; or vice verse if things may be going too slowly. They are also a great way to positively reinforce progress throughout so as to promote more questioning and student involvement overall.
I am a big fan of the minute paper after each class session. I like to know if the students truly understood the content for that class session. It is also an opportunity for a student to ask a question who might not during class. Any feedback from the students is useful.
Shelly Baker
