Pop quiz, essay, makes them think more deeply
Craig
Hi Marie- I also believe that frequent quizzes are the best way to keep on top of how students are doing so that we can make necessary adjustments. Best wishes- Susan
Daily quizzes can not only be useful as a formative evaluation, it can also be a motivator for students to attend class daily. These daily quizzes can allow students and instructors to get constant feedback on their progress. It allows both instructors and students to assess student knowledge or lack thereof. It could be a wake-up call for students and an alert that students might need tutoring for instructors. It also forces students to study daily rather than to wait until the night before a major exam to study. This helps students to retain information and do better on major exams.
Another method of formative evaluation is for students to simulate a competency in the lab. This helps them to apply that which they learned didactically; further enhancing their knowledge.
Formative evaluations can consist of the basics: tests, quizzes and final exams. However, teacher input is constructive as well as it can provide valuable informaiton for the student regarding general habits or other items that can impact formal learning.
Question and answer sessions in class. One minute papers. Peer teaching.
HI Claire - I am really enjoying your posts to the forums! While on the surface, all that "practice quizzing" may seem to be waste of time, in reality you are doing a terrific job at getting those concepts cemented into their minds.
Susan
One thing I like to do is have students do a practice quiz before we do the real quiz. This lets them see what they know and don't know. I encourage them to do the practice quiz without their books and notes first, then to use their books and notes to find the answers they didn't know. Then I have them work in pairs to discuss each other's answers. Then we discuss the practice quiz as a group. After we've done this, the students are ready to take the "real" quiz, and usually, it seems, are much more likley to know and remember the essential things I wanted them to know and understand after finishing the unit.
I use quizzes and unit tests to test comprehension as we go along and as a way to show students where they stand.
Kenneth,
How do you circumvent the need for mid-term and final exams. I also agree with you that information is taken in and "dumped" quickly after a large exam. Do you have a way of summating a course to ensure all your objectives have been met? My institution focuses on mid-term and final exams, which I believe is stressful for those teaching and learning. Teaching to the test seems to be the expectation today.
Hi Cheryl- Teaching online is really challenging - students who may be silent in on ground classes often blossom online which leads to lots of required feedback by online instructors. I really like your use of real world situations in the discussion threads! Best wishes - Susan
Hi,
I teach in an online format. In this type of area, the quizzes have all been created for me. If I feel there is a need for me to have more of a pulse on a class, I will create an ungraded discussion thread inviting learners to discuss a case study I pose; or to provide their own thoughts or solutions to a specific issue. I find the real world applications attract learners into conversations while allowing me to see who is really understanding the salient points.
Hi Karen- Thanks for your post to the forum. I really like that you turn what is generally considered individual work into a group supported exercise. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I constantly have students turn their easels around for group discussion and to assess and aid in the learning process.
Hi Marion - Thanks for your post to the forum. Your daily evalaution of clinical performance provides excellent immediate feedback - great work! Best wishes - Susan
I give a weekly quiz covering the previous weeks material. It helps me know if the students are comprehending the material before moving on.
In the clinical arena I have a daily evaluation form where the student evaluate themselves and the instructor gives feedback on the students clinical performance, areas to improve, and praise when indicated. It has been successful in prparing the summation evaluation, because I have the information on a daily basis. The students are aware of their performance and the summation evaluation is no surprise to them.
HI Steve - Thanks for your post to the forum. What you describe must yield a very dynamic class as students are interacting and critiquing each other! Best wishes- Susan
As a graphics instructor. I use "in process critiques". Usually two in a project. I tell the students I do not expect finished work. I expect all students to participate. This crit is to share with the class your visual direct, thought process, and for each student to see what the others are doing. For a class of 12, I allow about 20 minutes.
HI Joe - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a very comprehensive assessment system- great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Daily short narratives discussing the major points of the days lecture. Small group question and answer activities, clinical based problem solving discussions, and small quizzes, given at the beginning of lecture covering the previous days lecture.
