Hi Michael - Are the notecards submitted anonymously? Students often feel less insecure submitting questions via email or notecards than speaking up in class. One way that I use those type of submitted questions is to read the questions and go over them in class. often several students have had the same question! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I can use short ungraded assessments, such as asking students to write down on an index card the most interesting thing they learned in class today or in their homework reading assignment. Or I may ask them to write down or share any part of the lesson that was confusing or unclear.
I have found that verbal assessments help the student do a lot better when it is time to take the test.
Students can be assessed by participation in class discussions and group activities.
This is the same for me. Critical thinking and common sense are things that I need to reidorate to my students inorder to ensure they grasp the reasons that we do or use certian things.
I encourage group work, and having them do a research paper.
have students write a couple of test questions that applies to the subject.
Hi Jon - Thanks for your post to the forum. I especially like the idea that you have your students do research projects that are of special interest to them! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In some of my classes I use final research papers. Students are able to display knowledge of textbook material through a topic that interests them. They apply the theories learned in class to their specific topic.
I like to asses students by the prework the do to prepare for Practical assesments, I require that they have their production sheets in hand at line up and I look at everyones as I take role. The ones who have put effort into them seem to do better than the ones who do not. At the beginning of the course I will talk about simple mental mise en place will create a smooth day in the lab. I give them examples to make them flow and how to multitask.
in the environment I teach, hands on tests aka test outs are very important in letting me know that the lesson was understood. It is important for things to be done in a certain order or a certain way, and this allows me to make sure the student was able to understand from every aspect.
For a final project, I divide the students into groups and have each group present a topic that we have learned to the class. They can use lecture, power point, or any method they choose to present. It has turned out to be a good tool to assess what they have learned and whether or not they are going to be able to impliment those skills in the "real world".
Hi Nathan - Good use of pre-class time!! Best wishes- Susan
During line up and attendance I like to ask questions from the last days lecture, if the student answers incorrectly I'll give them the source for the answer and have them look it up and answer correctly before we start class.
Hi Jessica - That's a good practical assessment that will have personal payoffs for your students!
Best wishes! Susan
For the final project in my nutrition class, the students assess their own diet. They take the information we have learned (calculating needs, DRI, possible disease specific needs) and assess their own intakes.
For my pharmacology course i find that students understanding of the material in the course can also be assessed by having them do a presentation in class. This presentation is a requirement that is due at the end of the course and provides a summative assessment of not just the material they learned in my class but also if they are able to apply what they have learned to real world situations. This is why their presentations often involve research journals where they are to provide a scientific critique of the new drugs based on the concepts and principles that they have learned in class.
Using objective testing is often the first "go to" for teachers. However, I have found that there are many more effective and creative ways to measure students including games, discussions, presentations, papers, role playing, etc.
Objective testing will always be a part of teaching as it is the most common means of measuring a students learning, however, it should not be the only way.
Hi Jerry - Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, I agree; when students understand WHY they need to do something a certain way, they will be less likely to take short-cuts, etc. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I am definitely a hands on person. Most of my classes involve hands on practice. This is a very important part of the class and is also part of their overall assesment. I am also one of those that thinks the why is just as important as the why. I teach the procedure, allow them to practice, then teach them why we do the procedure this way or that. Nine times out of ten, their performance increases exponentially the second time around. This is when I have a skills assesment.
