You can incorporate CATs into your teaching by have mini quizzes after each lesson and having an area on the mini quizzes where students can give feedback on what they learned or where they need further information. This is a great tool to assess whether students are effectively learning the material.
Hi Marlene, Thanks for your post to the forum. CATS give us the frequent feedback that can help direct our instruction. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I plan to use them on occasion but not every class period. Maybe when I feel the subject matter is most important.
This form also developes skill and interest for the student. I tend to use this frequently in my classes, it can also show me the effectiveness different learning styles, and give each student the chance to impart knowledge as well.
I agree with this - will make the student happy as well as give them objectives
With our projects being mostly hands-on, I'll use these assessments during mini classroom sessions where the students will express what they have learned and challenges they have meet, to the rest of the class.
Hi James, Students appreciate whne we actually use the results of the CATs that they complete.
Susan Polick
Add a CAT after a short lecture period, and right before a break. Review the CAT results during the break, and then share them with the students when they return. Spend additional time on the topic(s) as needed in respinse to the CAT assessments.
Hi Paula, Yes, and students realize that we really care about and consider their feedback. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Marilyn, Thanks for your post to the forum. Using the info we get from those CATs can really help us prepare the next lesson. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I like this method of interaction between teacher and students. I think by giving them results at the start of the next class it will be a great passage to the learning objectives for the class.
I use a CAT toward the end of the class especially during a late evening class. It helps the students to switch gears and really think about why they are there. It tells me what they are hearing and taking from the class. It also tells me what they still want to know.
CAT will allow the instuctor to not only learn where the class is in their learning; but also what he,or she may need to improve on. for instance if the entire class is falling short in one area then that would key the instuctor into the material thats not comprehended as a whole.
Hi Denisse, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, that is precisely the goal of CATs! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Amy , Thanks for your post to the forum. How about asking them to write about questions they might have had about the previous assignments? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
you can get a very clear idea of their comprehension of the course content. You can use the results to continue on with your current instructional plan or redirect your delivery to better meet the needs of your students.
Using CATS allows an instructor to gauge how students are grasping the material and allows adjustments in delivery methods or time spent on a specific topic.
One of the CATS I employ is called "the muddiest point" whereby I have the students write a brief summary of what part of the lecture they need clarification on. It allows me to see if I have effectively delivered the material or if I need to review/revise what I have delivered.
This is a great idea that I want to implement, having the students write for a couple of minutes when class begins to have them summarize what they learned the day before. After that, I can have them volunteer to tell me about it and then I will do the review, reminding them of the material covered the day before. So what do I do with students aren't in class the day before?
Review previously discussed content for comprehension.
The best use of these, I feel, is to show the student how the material covered in the class will be applied in the "real world". This helps the student understand the importance of the material.
