Punctuated lectures, where you stop at appropriate points in a lecture to ask questions on the topic that was just covered. This is a way to see if information has been absorbed.
Not sure the name of this, but having students fill out on a sheet of paper how familiar they are with subjects that you will be covering, ranging from "never heard of" to "very familiar". This will give the instructor the ability to see the ranges of comfort levels in the class room.
Also, at the end of class (or lecture) have the students write down what was the most important part of what thye learned that day.
I am cheating and looking back at the class here, but it looks like the last one (I am sure there are several more as well) is a CAT that focuses on how a student learns versus content knowledge.
Student can be assessed via discussion board postings, group project, presentations, developing multi-media presentations such as PowerPoint, teleconferences and other projects.
Hi Mitchell- I agree that the Portfolio is an excellent tool in career Education. It serves as an assessment tool for individual classes and ultimately as a final summation of the students abilities to be shared with potential employers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career!
I agree with the Portfolio idea. It builds as the student progresses thoughtout the program. If there is an assessment of the Portfolio at each stage, what a great way of Formative assessment. At the end for Summative assessment, you can have a short competency which covers the majority of the formative topics.
Ask the students to do a presentation to show the particular skills that have been covered and they should have learned. This not only shows you if they have grasped the skills and concept but also allows the student to practise and develop that skill and work on any weaknesses.
Hi Mark - Thank you for your post to the forum! I have worked at large universities, small private colleges and career/tehnical colleges. I have found that there is considerably more one-on-one work with students-faculty in the career/technical schools. Best wishes! Susan
assessment in a vocational education is a double sided sword. We need our students to have the information that our accrediting body requires to pass with a degree but sometimes students need more reinforcing than a generalized assessment on paper. Reinforcement of skills can take place in the classroom by mini teaching sessions and having students teach other students what they have learned in the lesson. After school tutoring outside of the bustle of a busy classroom may help some students engage better and focus more.
I agree. The use of portfolio assessment provides a very complete picture of the student's learning.
Another way to assess students is to assign a recipe that the student is going to demonstrate in front of the whole class. The instructor will be able to assess what the student has learned.
Some of the courses I am responsible for do involve tests and these are unavoidable, however the graphics courses can serve as the best example for alternative assessments. Every class is oriented around building one key skill, and the object that is created using this skill will be employed in the next class. This is a very keen way of indicating whether or not the subject has been fully attained. I find it vital to incorporate a task that will require a bit more attention throughout the week (i.e. homework), but by the end of every class I have a concise knowledge of the learners’ ability in the skill set discussed during the class. Not only will I get a copy of the object for consideration, but it will also become the starting point for the next class. I find this also motivates the participants to embellish their creative side if they are aware that this will be a continuing project that ultimately leads to their Final Portfolio.
Hi Larry - Having students complete your sentences during a demo also increases their engagment in the demo. Good idea! Best wishes - Susan
I like the concept of the portfolio. This allows the instructor to assess the student's acquiring, not only the knowledge base of the course instruction but also the application of information in a multidimensional format. The portfolio assessment tool can also be expanded to allow for different learning styles as the student can apply their acquiring, evaluating, and synthesizing of information in a variety of ways: visually, textual, or in an audio format. I have used portfolios as a summative assessment tool in several courses. Have you had any unusual or creative portfolios presented in your class?
Pop quizes and also asking students to complete sentences/thoughts during a demonstration.
Hi Matthew- welcome to ED 103! I agree completely - our students need to be able to use what we are teaching them in future career situations. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! susan
i always like to ask alternative questions that evaluate how well a student has understood the material. it is one thing to be able to apply techniques on a test or practical, but can you take the information from class and apply it to re-world situations.
Hi LeeAnn - You are wisely getting your students to play an active role in their education and as you noted it pays off in terms of their understanding and retention. Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Ask them to illustrate how the class subject is applied in their current work environment.
asking students to research market segmentation strategies and provide explanation. The students understanding was measurable.
Skills based practicals I feel enable students to see how they have progressed and enable an instructor to form the next series of challenges for the student.
Asking less formal questions. Assessing the level of questions that students are asking. Observing students as they work through a problem. ...
