I like to incorporate active learning in my class by engaging students in interactive activities that are embedded in the class presentation. Some of the activities I used are knowlege checks, playing games like jeopardy, and polling questions. I also like to have small group activities where each group will discuss and present their findings and information on a specific topic or scenario. These activities usually provide me with a general idea on what my students have learned so far.
I like to give my students worksheets that pertain to the material just covered in class. This allows the student to practice the material, but it also helps me to identify those students that did not grasp the material covered, or understood it incorrectly, or other problems. I work the room, answering questions and helping students. I also observe who is working and who is not, and who will ultimately have issues at quiz time.
I simply do not want to leave it to chance that my developmental math students might or might not get the material covered in lecture. They have obviously seen it before - so now it is time to focus and overcome the deficiencies, phobias, or any other blockage so that the student finally learns the necessary material.
We have weekly discussions on the reading content.
Like in Richards class, our courses also have several methods to evaluate students success.of which include quizzes,hands on evaluation and final exams. The hands on is definitly a better method for students and instructors to access what has been learned and what can be improved upon.
I have had a writing prompt on the blackboard before the start of class, something that will elicit a skill that we have been working on, for example, paragraph unity.
Formative evaluation methods of a student's learning process can be helpful in promoting a student to want to work harder. The instructor could fill out detailed forms that indicate the student's performance and provide goals for the individual student to work towards. This way each student will have personal evaluations to reference for their individual needs. The evaluation of students, however, should not compare the student's performance with the rest of the class since this might cause students to give up especially if they think they are doing really poorly compared to the rest of the class.
Hi Mary, I agree - regular assessments are essential to give feedback to us and also to our students.
Susan Polick
Short quizes can be given at the beginning of a class session to help demonstrate whether the students are understanding the material.
Hi Julie, Thanks for your post to the forum. I have had foreign students tell me that also! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Kathy, Thanks for your post to the forum. That regular timely feedback is excellent. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
That is a great point..using peer interaction or "study groups" has been a great way for those who are shy or unsure to learn without involving the "potentially" intimating process of including the instructor. One of my Asian students told me that the instructor is revered in their country and never questioned or disappointed...she did much better with her peers.
We have daily quizzes based on the lecture from the day before. When possible those quizzes are given in a case study format to allow them to use the information along with critical thinking skills.
Quick 5-10 minute quiz on the start of class can help and be a formative evaluation strategies that can refresh students knowledge and look back to my communication with the student as well.
Hi Jennifer, That frequent feedback is ideal!
Susan Polick
Hi Tom, Thanks for your post to the forum. You should receive excellent feedback from this strategy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I give a quiz weekly unless it is a midterm or final examination week. The quizzes and exams are mostly multiple choice evaluations.
I sometimes use a quick survey toward the end of class. Answers to the following on placed on an index card: What one thing sticks in your mind about what we did tonight? What's one thing that still is confusing? What are you most proud of as far as what you did in the lab tonight? Depending on the content, questions can be adjusted accordingly.
Two of the formative evaluation methods I've used with my students are through short quizzes and feedback sessions. I'm able to assess where they are in their acquired new knowledge.
A quick quiz after each topic can help both students and instructor evaluate level of mastery of the specific course content. The quick quiz can be done individually or in a group and its not be graded. The teacher can go over the quiz with the students and sometimes the group with highest score can get a gift like a pack of candies.This can help keep the class alive and motivated.
retion and attendance and what they like about the school and what they dont like about the school
