These help to see if the students are getting the material or it helps me as the instructor to know if I need to change how I am teaching the lesson to better help my students learn.
Hi Allina- Giving your students frequent feedback through quizzes is really important. It gives them regular gauges of how they are doing and gives you guidance of where you need to review.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
it is very important. it allows us instructors to be able to gauge how are students are doing. Are they understanding and progressing with the material. As an instructor you need to make sure your teaching method is reaching all of your students
I have quizes weekly, in some of my classes, that have a lot of information. They are not graded as tests, but they are not allowed to use their work. We grade them in class and review the information. It is a way for them to have repetition, to help them learn. I not only talk about what is on the test, but I have questions prepared that are not on the test, to aid in discussions at the beginning of class. This helps review what was talked about in previous weeks, and based on student responses, I can feel more comfortable about moving on to another subject. Students have reflected back to me that they really like this, and that it also motivates them to study weekly, and they seem to retain more information and are more productive in class.
Allina
Hi Daniel- Thanks for your post to the forum. In the long-run CATs can save us lots of time by, as you mention, letting us know quickly if there is a disconnect before we move on. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I use most of the techniques listed, but think that I will begin using Chain Notes and Application Cards. Because I teach Gen Eds, my students often struggle to find the connections between these perceived unnecessary courses and their program areas. I can collect the responses to both technique and share them at the beginning of each quarter, letting the new students learn from their peers.
I like the idea of using these when subject material changes. It gives me an idea of how well the material was understood before moving on to different concepts, especially those that build on one another.
Hi Robin - I am thrilled that you got some "reminders" and also some new ideas from this class! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi David- Thanks for your post to the forum and for sharing some significant questions! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
If you don't seek regular feedback, then how do you know if you are being effective? Every class is different. How could would you tailor your approach to the needs of the students if you don't have their feedback?
I haven't realized that these were called "CATs" but I've used a few in the time that I've been teaching. I've had students write test questions and then used those questions as openers to the next class, and I've put some on the formative and summative tests. Also, I like the idea of one sentence summaries. I used these in my high school classes before I taught adult education. You just reminded me of something that I forgot to do!!!
I will probably put a few more of these into my class time, since I have not used them nearly enough. Sometimes I forget that my adult learners need as much review as my child/teen learners. Glad I'm taking this course!!
Because each group is different it is important to have a resource of techniques available that can be used to adjust teaching style.
CAT as a tool when properly used has important value.
They will allow me to understand where my students are at with the material in an informal, no pressure (graded) way. Then allow me to adjust appropriately.
Creating a class activity that will reinforce student’s memory of the subject matter through group discussion and web mining.
Hi Tina- Thanks for your post to the forum, As you mention, getting frequent regular feedback prevents huge problems with information missed.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
There are some good ideas presented here. Classroom assessment techniques help guide the instructor. They serve a s areference point for the learning needs of students. It allows the instructor to see when review of content is required before going on. Because it is done on an ongoing basis, it allows a better indication of where the students are at, rather than waiting until the end and then trying to determine where they became lost or confused. Feedback to students also lets them know they are on the right track which improves motivation.
Cats are very valuble as an instructor can asses his or her methods and or styles can be modified to better suit everyones needs.
Hi Regina - as you mention it's all about catching the weaknesses before they become overwhelming. Best wishes- Susan
I can use them in various ways to determine if teh students are progressing as desired. It can also allow me to see where there may be gaps in learning or an area that people are weak on before any larger assesments take place.
Hi Hope - Thanks for your post to the forum. Your interest in using CATs to improve your teaching by gaining feedback shows that you are a good insturctor. Good Instructors seek continued improvement! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
