Using formative evaluation methods
What are some formative evaluation strategies you can use to assess students?
Hi John, A great way to get the feedback that you need to proceed in your instruction!Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Susan Polick
I use review questions at the beginning of class from the previous days lesson. I mix it up by sometimes reviewing the questions as a group. Then other times going around the room in order to make it "fair". Other times I ask the questions in a random fashion matching questions to students different levels on knowledge. This seems to be very effective and keeps everyone involved.
I use daily discussions and quizzes. My favorite assessment tool is hands on projects. Hands on quizzes work great to assess understanding
There are numerous techniques to use to evaluate students. you can quiz them on the material, you can use oral questions to assess there ability to understand the material, you can even use games and projects to see if the student is understanding the material.
Hi Melissa,That's a great example of using CATs effectively! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
At the end of a topic I may have students write down 1 question they have about the topic on a 3x5 card and turn it in. This way I can see if the same type of questions keep coming up.
I will call upon a student(s) to share in their own words what they felt was the most important item covered and state why.
We use practice standardize that our respiratory credentialing board offer.
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for your post to the forum. That frequent, no pressure writing practice is excellent! I definitely agree that frequent, current assessment and feedback is essential. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
In my English classes, we use paragraphs as a low-barrier way to ensure that the students are learning to write coherently. The paragraphs are worth only a few points and are often written in class, then peer-edited. They give students a chance to apply the grammar knowledge they are learning, and they also provide a feeling of success for students who struggle with writing.
I my art history classes, where memorization is so important, I give pop slide quizzes that are worth only a few points right after the lecture. I started this practice after reading Brain Rules. It suggested that assessment right after teaching actually improves retention of material.
The most effective processes I use in my teaching technique for formative evaluation are short quizzes or small projects. Additionally, I may also ask for a summary of the lesson that was recently discussed to ensure they are able to comprehend it.
Hi Nelson, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are getting great feedback through assessments and discussions - great work!
Susan Polick
Hi Clarence, Thanks for your post to the forum. That timely feedback is excellent!! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
this kind of assessment lets me know how much the ctudents has grasped during the lectures
weekly quizzes,allows the students to review what they have learned during that time and prepares for the next chapter.
Also by having the students participate in a open format conversation at the begining of the class were we all discuss and review what they learned the previous day allows the instructor to know that the group is ready to move on with the program as well as refreshing the students memory by making them participate in the conversation.
Testing the day after a lecture helps students to monitor what they are learning, they also help instructors to better evaluate whats being taught.
Hi Denise, You are certainly getting some good feedback with those assessments. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
In my last 3 years of teaching in high school, we participated in a Gates Foundation program called "Keeping Learning on Track." One of the keys to the program was frequent formative assessment. Currentl, in my math classes, I introduce new material in short segmeents followed by a few problems assigned in class. I use this time to observe and assist students and determine what misconceptions they have. I use this to immediately addres the problem and/or give more practice. I have also used short "exit card" type quizzes, which I correct and comment on without grading, but unfortunately with a term of 23 class periods and frequent summative assessments, I can't do this as often as I'd like.
At the end of the class I like to ask the class to write down one or two things that stood out for them during the lecture. I also give weekly quizzes and test.
I do the normal quizzes as a check. However, sometimes I like to use questioning at the beginning and ending of each class. I also like to play a review game sometimes at the end of class until the unit is covered. It engages the students and makes them part of active learning.
