The best method I have found is to ask questions, specifically, open-ended questions throughout the class period. I have found the "why" question to be the most effective.
Hi Travis, You are using some good formative evaluations in a timely manner! Susan
Susan Polick
Using a group project as a formative evaluation strategy works well in many classes taught. Students are given the project rubric and use this as a guide to ensure all requirements are met. Working in this environment allows for many learning modes to be accomplished.
I utilize weekly quizzes to assess learning comprehension and understanding. I also have a weekly, short on-topic project that students research and present to the class.
Hi Julie, Good use of evaluations to give you the information that you need to plan your lessons. Best wishes- Susan
Susan Polick
I feel it helps the student on where there at, and if they need to improve they have time to before the coarse is complete
The first thing I do is give a quick 'Pop" quiz over the material we covered the day before. I then re-visit that material. My next step is to start with my lecuture and then at the end of my lecture, I do a question and answer situation.
This will allow me to evaluate the material for each day and lecture.
I like the idea of starting the class with questions regarding the day before and that too many quizes can be intimidating. I plan to add the daily discussion to my tools. Since my class also has families and works a full time job I do a quiz on new material late in the week to allow me to see their progress as well as to show students where the need to put in some additional effort. This allows them to focus their weekend study efforts on their week spots. Before the Monday test we have a general discussion on the topic. If I sense they may not be ready, the test is postponed to allow time for a more indepth review of the material.
Regular use and integration of quizzes, exams, and homework assignments seems to produce the best result for my courses.
Hi Edward, Thanks for sharing a very comprehensive assessment strategy! Best wishes - Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Shirley, We have just started using "Clickers" and I agree that they are really terrific tools! Best wishes- Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Andrea, Thanks for your post to the forum. Getting timely feedback on quizzes and exams is so important for students to see where they are off track and what they have mastered. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
One strategy that works well is to tell the students that they will have an open-notes quiz before their exam. This quiz should cover the majority of information that will be on the test. The students are encouraged to take good notes because they will be able to use them on the quiz; in addition, the quiz's results tell me who isn't taking sufficient notes. Once the students get back their quizzes, they can use them as study guides for the test. I make it clear to them that there will be some questions that deal with information that wasn't on the quiz, so they have a motive to study more broadly.
It is vital to precede these quizzes with closed-notes quizzes, however. I begin with closed-note quizzes that test their understanding in a general manner, then progress to an application quiz in which they must explain the material's relevance to a fictional but realistic scenario. The open-notes quiz is after that, then the exam.
I like to use formative assessments and CATS to see where the students are. I give a daignostic quiz that is not graded before I lecture on the topic. Then I used in class questions along with "Clickers" so that students can see how their comprehension compares with their classmates. I especially like to use the "clickers" because the student does not have to be embarrassed if they don't know as much as their colleagues. However, it serves as a motivation to study.
For quizzes, I build in time immediately following to grade as a class so that students have immediate feedback. It also helps me identify areas that we need to cover more completely or approach in a different way.
With my beats-making class, I have them make a beat, then listen to it and go over what they've done with them on a personal level. This is not a quiz exactly, but it does push the students to use what they have learned in the preceding classes. It is also fun, and helps reinforce the learning, plus gives them confidence that they can accomplish making music themselves. If they have troubles, I work with them, and give them pointers, or I assign more expert-level students to work with them.
Hi Albert, I agree about the importance of starting class with a review of the previous lesson. That way we are sure of where we stand with the previous material. Susan
Susan Polick
I start every class with a daily verbal review quiz. It's an open question/answer/discussion event that covers the previous lessons and is cumulative as the course progresses. It is an excellent way for the students and for me to assess what they have learned and what topics may need more attention.
Small chapter quizzes is an example. However, formative assessments are not limited to these. Exit Passes are another example. Exit Passes are where students answer a question or work out a particular problem on a sheet of paper and turn it in before they leave. This is an excellent way of informing the instructor if his or her students are understanding what is being presented to them.
Some that have worked for me were quizzes, open discussions, group senerios, and games.
