Hi Stan - Oh yes! In IT classes they need to be able to show that they can apply what they have learned. Susan
Formative evaluation methods include giving quizzes on a regular basis. I teach Information Technology and one thing I do is to provide students with lab exercises that give hands on examples of how to apply what is being learned.
I give feedback to my students after handing back tests and quizzes to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie and what could be done for improvement.
I also use daily quizzes and open discussions as well, but I also find that reviewing the material orally directly after it is presented will help the student reinforce the ideas presented in the lecture. At this time I can geet an overall assessment of the entire class and whether or not they have a full understanding before moving on to the next topic. I do this after every section in every chapter. And at the end of the class period, we summarize the main points of the lecture and objectives presented therein.
Frequent quizzes always plays a big role. It helps the student retain more information. When they take their exams they can recall more of the subject because it was previously studied.
At our campus, 65% of the student grade is "class participation". The formative assessments can be used as the class participation grade. The formative assessments that I use include in-class assignments, practice handouts, and homework assignments. All of these formative assessments help me to pace the instruction and to identify students who need extra help. They also help the student to determine how he/she is doing.
Every day it is a different way of assesing the students.Last 10 minutes I give a quiz or ask questions or give problem solving exercises.
Saroj Patel
Hi Cheryl - Thanks for sharing some wonderful examples of formative evaluations! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Kira- Taking the time to discuss the relevance of what you are about to teach is excellent! Students are less likely to "zone out" when they understand why the information is important. Susan
I like to take time before lecture to explain the improtance of the information and how they will use it in life. I then during lecture will ask critical thinking questions using real life patient issues. Hopefully through their answers I will see them start to connect the information. If they can't answer then I know I need to expand or rephrase.
From my research of formative evaluation I found there are two types and that you can lecture to your students and then allow the students to ask question in an open forum discussion. After the lecture has been completed ask if there are any additional questions, and if there are no questions release the students for a 10 minute break and when the students return give a 5 question pop quiz/ This one why of finding if any of the information that was discuss is sinking and if the students were really paying attention.
You can also do a class lecture and then have a open class discussion forum and then near the end of class give a very lengthy homework assignment based on the class discussion, where they would find majority of their answer in the lecture material that was discussed.
I like to use daily quizzes and group quizzes. I also give some "trophy" at the end of the week to the group that does the best.
I too use weekly quizzes. I also quiz during lecture if it is something we have covered in the past. I find that if I have certain students answering all the time I will ask for someone else to agree or disagree. I also ask opinion based questions to get a feel for what the subject impression is by students.
By, Edwardo Mojena
I like to give pop-quizzes, midterm and final exams.
Formative evaluation methods include quizzes--pop and scheduled, reflective question/answer, review.
This evaluation is important, first it lets me know who understands the material and who does not understand the material. I give them question and answers, small project to complete, or a quiz.
HAve found the regular, workbook, or chapter review questions per chapter are a good formative format.
HI Ellis - Thanks for the post to the forum. My college recently demonstrated the use of "clickers" at a Faculty Inservice. There was great interest in using them. I will check on the pricing that our folks have found and get that info to you. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
HI Scott - Thanks for sharing your very well planned system of assessment! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I am interested in real-time formative assessment using clickers. I saw a demo of them in a grade school class and students were delighted. I borrowed a system for a couple of months and used them in a high school class for multiple choice questions that I made up as I went along. This gave me much more information about the whole class than I would have gotten by selecting a student who raises her hand. My daughter used a clicker in a college class and said it was a fine experience.
Commercial systems for a classroom can cost well over $1000 just for the clickers and the receiver.
I am engineering an open source hardware and software clicker system for multiple-choice quizzes that could cost no more than $1000 for the hardware computer, the display screen, the receiver, and a set of clickers.
Do you think this is something teachers would want in their own classrooms?
