CATs are a great way to help evaluate the progress of your students on a daily basis. If used on a daily or close to daily basis, it also could also help to keep the students more attentive as points (5 or less) could be assessed.
I always ask my students for feedback to see where I am and where I need to adjust. I ask them is there anything that they could have or should know more about.
I can see where Classroom Assessment Technique can help me not only guage where my students are in terms of where they may be in understanding material. But, what I really like is that it MOTIVATES students to not only work on their own but in groups. I printed out the CAT paperwork to read and understand better how I can apply it in my classes. Thank you
Carmen P
Almost all of our Classes use CATs. We take the students from lecture right into the lab or office setting and see how well they can use the knnoledge given to them and shown to them. They are then assesed on their competency of the subject with a hands on comp. they must pass with a 70% or higher to pass the class.All of our students are then expected to do a externship using their hands on skills. the student who took the time to practicce and not goof off generly do very well on externship. Our students cannot start untilltheypass all comps.
Hi DeOnn, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, CATs give us immediste, useful feedback for us as well as our students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
CAT's are very useful for me and my students as we move through content. It allows me to adjust my pace based on how well, or not, the students grasped the content. It also gives the student an indicator of how much of the content they were able to retain and apply.
Hi Doug,Thanks for your post to the forum. I am glad that you got some useful ideas fromtghis class! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Tricia , Thanks for your post to the forum. I promise that you will get really valuable feed back from ant CTs that you use!
Susan Polick
I like the idea behind the Classroom assessment techniques, but have not incorporated them into my class. I can see the benefit in not only helping to evaluate the level of understanding my students have on the topic, but also using it as an incentive. Often we take a break each hour and students tend to wander in later than they should. This type of 'test' could help to get them back in their seats on time and evaluate how the learning process is going.
Some of the simple examples I think could really work and I plan to implement them in my next class!
I think that I will try using this technique in my phlebotomy class after lecturing and demonstrating the importance of order of draw and the importance of knowing the colors of tubes and the additives in each tube.
Hi Trina, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a great example of a way to use CATs effectively! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Peter, Yes, that's exactly why I feel so strongly about the importance of usings CATs. Susan
Susan Polick
I think this is a great tool that can be incorporated in the clinical lectures for my studnts. It reminds me of role play for clinical lectures. They can demonstrate how they would handle various situations.
I feel the importance of CAT's is that it identifys problems early so that they may be corrected quickly. This will improve teaching methods and success on the part of the students.
Using a variety of techniques in my teaching method gives me a better chance to reach all of my students no matter what their learning style. And feedback to the students on a regular basis allows students to see their progress.
It is imperative that misunderstood material or incorrect procedures be corrected.
I also use the method of "review" at the beginning of every class. Really gives me insight into who I reached the day before.
Thats a great idea I will definitely use that in my classroom.
Hi Paul, The Minute Paper is indeed an excellent way to get valuable feedback! Susan
Susan Polick
I like the idea of using minute evaluations, and having students tell me what they learned in that particular class
