At the beginning of the class, the first day, I try to asses the student’s prior knowledge of the material we will be covering. We are using the process analysis in lab by having them do a diagnosis on a vehicle and then answer questions about the process and explain how to perform a relative type problem on a different vehicle type. I also ask student to explain what a lab procedure could do for them by knowing how and what that type of problem does for their future.
In my class I have my student read out of their books and answer the ase style questions at the end of each chapter. I then start the curriculum and that way the students have at least seen most of the information already. After the chapter I have them answer some more study guide type questions.
Hi Steven - I think the process anaysis is excellent! It challenges them to use high order thinking then just memorizing and will make them much mure capable of applying their knowledge and skill in the field.
At the start of class each day I ask if there is any questions about what we went over the day before and then I will ask them some questions and at the end of a block learning I have a study guide that the students fill out and we go over it by me reading the question and then I call on a student to answer the question and after they do I ask the class if the can add to it
The CAT I use the most is Process Analysis. After talking about a system or component and how it works I challenge the students with various possible scenarios and see if the students can arrive at a conclusion as to why or how something happened.
I also have used the Background Knowledge Probe prior to discussing a new topic to gauge their knowlege and how familar they are with a subject.
Hi Chuck - the use of that sort of research paper moves your students into the higher order skills that will make them stand out when they move into their careers. They will not only be able to "do it" they will also be able to say "how, when and why". Excellent! Susan
We have developed a research paper that requires the student to demonstrate their ability to use tools for tasks, service informatio , and deductive reasoning based on information learned in lab and classroom
i always ask questions when i am teaching.as i explain how things work,i ask students to fill in the blanks by answering or finishing the phrase or sentence that i begun.i do this from start to finish.they stay engaged with the class and also learn fron it.no i am not working on any new cats.
Hi Bob- Isn't it interesting how relaxed students will be if the "test" word is not mentioned? By assessing informally you are accessing all sorts of information - great job!
A question and answer technique used at the start or end of class. This is desguised to simply appear to be a chat session but in reality could be a test review or a chapter review. It is in this informal discussion that many questions get answered that were not asked during class and some new questions may be brought up. I find it to be quite effective and am constantly figuring out ways to make it better.
In the first day of class I give the students a task to write and then give a oral presention , at this time I am assessing their communication skills and try to determing who needs help .
Hi William - welcome to ED 103! By frequently checking your students you are using CATs of some sort. Utilizing these sorts of assessments ensures that students are on track before too much material is covered.
I feel this is one area that I could do more to develop and work with in reference to your first question I could not come up with any direct responses to this area of instruction but after thinking on it a while I realized that we use some form of these but not in a direct sense or form. I believe we would call this eccelerated learning where we often check do our students understand what we are talking about. I am not currently working on any new cats and do not see any that were recently developed by myself.
