Time Between Assessments
I've recently started teaching a new group through the first science-based class of their course. As I haven't had much experience teaching this particular class, I adapted a syllabus from a previous instructor. What I did not realize when planning the class is the time between quizzes.
We meet weekly, and the first two quizzes have been on the 2nd and 4th class period (2 weeks in between). Most of the students have struggled through these 2 quizzes.
My question is: what is the best timeframe for quizzing students? Am I expecting too much from them with every-other-week quizzes?
E. Young
Everett,
Good question but one that is hard to answer because there are a number of factors that come into play on when to quiz. I do quizzes when we finish a unit of learning and I need to check for understanding and comprehension. I don't schedule the quizzes for a specific time because my students may not be ready for a quiz so I let them know there will be quizzes and that I will announce in plenty of time when they will be given. This way I can keep the focus of my students on the content rather than knowing there is going to be a quiz every other week or whenever it is scheduled. They become so focused on the quiz and what will be on it they forget about the value of the content they are being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
