Detailed feedback on all online assignments that gives credit to the student for key concepts grasped in the paper and identifying and discussing concepts missed helps the student track his/her progress in the class.
I also reply to most discussion forum topic posts, acknowledging a comment that shows critical thinking skills and asking questions to get them to dig deeper on subject matter.
When evaluating instruction and learning I try to apply cross-cultural awareness into the evaluation. I do rely on "cultural informants" to suggest ways to achieve results when cultural differences may otherwise lead to unexepected complications during formative evaluation.
Hi Lillian - You've got it - that's formative evaluations exactly! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I just learned what formative evaluation methods consist of and i understand that it included continual methods thru out the class to see if the students are learning. Quiz, verbal questions, random to do task to see if they can put something just taught together, or a math problem done on the board.
We use quizzes to assess the students after every 2 chapters covered. This way if we see that all students don't understand a concept we can correct it before it is to late.
Hi Dwayne- Thanks for your post to the forum and for pointing out that asking "Why?" is really important - as you mention,it encourages students to really think analyticly. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Some of my favorite formative evaluation methods are analytical questioning, developing ideas and conclusions through questioning, and the all-famous question - why?
Questioning is a very big part of my formal assessments because it generates feedback and classroom discussions which gives me the opportunity to observe and evaluate student learning through their responses.
Group segments (form small groups to solve problems) are another tool I use to evaluate student progress, understanding, application, and individual's ability to work with others. I gain from observation, and receive class participation and tangible responses (written).
A very good question Monty! I make sure that my students understand that there will be a group grade but that a certain percentage will be based on their invidual work. This can be assessed through submission of journals tracking their individual work as well as peer evaluation. It's important to make sure that you are doing interim checks of these assessments, rather than waiting until the end of the project. Susan
Basically, I use group projects to evaluate the students. However, assessing the
group is the most difficult part. Now I faced with some groups will do the work for a tardy student. As well, should I give the same grade to the group, or should I give different grades?
At the start of each class period, I will give a written quiz to assess the students on the materials that we previously discussed. At the end of the class lecture, I will discuss the quiz answers with the students. Usually the quiz answers can turn into a lively class discussion.
We use daily assignment as evaluation and also weekly quiz to assess the student knowledge of the content covered during the week.
Hi Daniel - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are doing an exemplary job of providing feedback to your students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
The formative evaluation method used most often in the classroom that I manage is individual feedback on each assigned task. Every other day students reproduce dishes that were demonstrated in the lab the day before. We go over each component on the dish and access whether the technique, flavor and presentation were followed properly. We then advise each student on what they can do to work on any of the components that need work. Each student gets individual and specific feedback based on their needs.
Hi Sean - thanks for your post to the forum. Not only do students really enjoy working with scenarios, but also their retention of the material is increased as they have applied the concepts that they have learned. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In a finance class, I like to give students hypothical scenarios where they anaylsis the financials of businesses they like.
Hi Karen - Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree, in the online environment it is so important to be continuously checking on how our students are doing via discussions and assessments. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
We have a quiz at the end of each week. We also have discussion boards each week to evaluate and interact with online students.
Hi Julie- Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared some excellent reasons for internships that ensure that students are evaluated "on the job". Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
The use of formative evaluation methods is an advantage to the tactile, auditory, and visual learner. For an example, a medical student accomplishing internship after completing all coursework receive on-the-job training free in the actual work enviroment. You can't get any more real than this. Their in-school instructor monitors the growth as well as the job site supervisor who can groom the student, hopefully next employee. The school instructor provides the job site criteria to be successful while the job supervisor gives constructive criticism and positive knowledge information for the student to learn and be successful in the work environment. It is not just about the core knowledge, but also the soft skills of holding down a job that are absolutely necessary to be employed. Some of these are being to work on time and getting along with other employees. Formative evuations can be redeeming if you put to use what you know; but condemning if you are trying to skate through a program and not do the work. We have to teach our students to produce to survive.
warm-up exercises at beginning of each day that cover material covered teh previous day, life activities outside of school often have them coming to class distracted and thisx exercise can draw them bck
