I try to use several different formative evaluation methods to give the students a better learning experience. Each evaluation method is assigned a point value depending upon how long it will take to complete. A term paper has the same point value as the final exam. Short exams given at almost every class meeting about the previous weeks lecture have 2x the point value of the homework for that chapter. Practice labs for tactile learners are about an overall 20% of the final grade with each lab experience worth the same number of points. The overall idea is to give the students several different opportunities to earn their grades that address each of the different learning styles. Consequently, if they don't do well on one particular short exam I tell them not to get discouraged because their grade is a composite of many different learning experiences. Attendance and class participation are about 10% of the final grade.
I prefer weekly quizes and an occasional short answer homework assignment. This gives the students an opportunity to show what they have learned and also identify areas where they may need to place more emphasis in their studing if they are not demonstrating an understanding of the topic through the formative evaluations. I think it is good feedback for both the students and the instructors.
I administer a weekly quiz. This helps me measure what the student has learned by the materials covered in class. I also use a weekly journal response. This allows me to see how the students are processing the information they are learning.
Thank you. It also gives the students the opportunity to learn how to speak under different circumstances other than normal conversations. In the medical field we must be able to discuss any topic with that concerns their visit.
Hi Pamela - Thanks for your post to the forum. I like the idea of presentations. Students are enabled to see the relevance of what they are learning and also become more comfortable with speaking in public. Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Besides the weekly Quizzes I have the students preform a presentation to inform the rest of the class of the various topics regarding medical information/topics/subjects and/or interests. We perform this twice during the semester and connect how the student's interest and knowledge has progress and grown. The students are amazed at their development towards the goals that I have them state during the first week of class and their progress towards those goals.
Hi Greg - Thanks for your post to the forum. Application assessments such as you describe, can indeed be very effective! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Sometimes I will use a quiz while other times may utilize a hands on "experiment" to illustrate proper technique to me.
Hi John- Yes, the "Quiz" word can be intimidating so your use of "Worksheets" is a good idea! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Regular quizzes. midterm and final exams
Stewart,
I use a similar format due to format for our school. I am adapting my approach and after each chapter, I will have them complete "worksheets" based on the material. I used to call them "quizzes" but I see that students are getting caught up on that word. I am also allowing them to use their textbooks to find the answers. This is re-inforcing to them the importance of reading the text and becoming familiar with the material. We will see if the new approach has any effect.
Example! If you have a criterion referenced objective and there are several steps or procedures to learn you can stop and give progress checks through out the less to assess learning.
surprise quiz at end of topic,home assignment about random topic related to the course content
give idea to the student about direction of the course.
group quiz in the class at end of the course
short questions which focus on the concept
all these will show the awarenesss about the subject without stressing on excess information.
It is dependant on the course being taught, but, normally through quizzes on specified materials, and chapter examinations, I can readily assess the didactic information retention processes. Through the use of short papers, I have been able to assess synthesis and comprehension of a particular information set. With various practical examinations, I can assess the visual and tactile processes which round out the normal scope of formative evaluations used in anatomy or pathology classes at my school
I find that giving short true/false quizzes at the beginning of class that relate to the materials covered in the prior class period are an excellent way to assess retention.
Hi Willis- The frequent feedback that you are giving your students is excellent! Best wishes - Susan
In my Culinary Lab courses-I evaluate the recipes they have created that class period. This allows them to make corrections, if needed prior to the practical (or summative) exam at the end of the week.
I teach both math and ESL. In my math courses, I use daily warm-up problems/mini-quizzes that relate to the previous day's lesson to assess their understanding of the skills. From their work I can discover what part(s) of the concept they are understanding and what parts they don't!
In my ESL classes, I listen carefully to my students' oral responses/speaking exercises to assess their speaking abilities and listening comprehension. To assess their writing ability and understanding, I use daily journals and short writing assignments. And to assess reading comprehension, oral Q&A after reading a passage or story as well as comprehension questions they must answer in writing.
For me, I use formative assessment of my students to guide me in my planning. In fact, I don't usually plan more than a couple days in advance due to the unpredictability of my students' comprehension. I try to stay flexible with lesson timing...depending on how quickly or slowly the students "get it"!
As an instructor I feel is our responsibility to protor exams and quizzes, this re-enforces what the students are comprehending during class time as well as what the work they are putting in at home.
Hi Sherrie- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using best practices as an online instructor - feedback is essential! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
