Review - Overt or Covert?
I have found that hiding a review is better than announcing one. Usually, reviews are requested before tests and are appreciated. However, in order to review consistantly without the eye rolls, questions thrown out to the students during instruction time generally accomplishes the task. At other times, opinions are elicited with the content: "How do you see such and such from this course?" I try to let review be student directed as much as possible. Are there other examples of covert review that might prove helpful?
Michael,
Good way to guide the learning of your students as well as provide the reinforces of what you consider important of enough to be on the tests. I support the use of study guides as they help focus students as they prepare for tests.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach mostly the basic or first term courses and the students appreciate the opportunity for overt reviews. I stop and review during lecture and at the end of class. I provide a review sheet before tests to help direct studying efforts. Once again, this helps the students form their study habits and decide what is important. I know there is controversy about study guides, but I believe it helps students by example, especially in the beginning. I also remind students if I say something three times, it most likely will be on the test. I smile as I say it the third time, and so do the students. We both know it is an important concept they will be seeing again.
Carla,
Glad to help with your professional development. Enjoy your opportunities to share your experiences and knowledge with your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a fairly new instructor, I have not considered this, but I suppose I incorporate a lot of review into my lectures by asking for student participation, repeating and emphasizing key words and ideas, etc. At the end of each chapter or topic discussed (especially at the end of the class period) I ask, "what did we learn today? What do you like or dislike about blank? What was fun or unexpected during our lab activity? How can you apply this to clinical situations?" Sometimes I don't get much response, but other times (mostly after lab activities) students burst with comments, which sparks conversation. I think this more casual form of review is effective, and my students have shown to do reasonably well on periodic exams. Thanks for bringing the idea forward to me!
Patrick,
Something I use are games. Games like Family Feud and Jeopardy get the students into the content while having fun reviewing what we have covered. The game format enables the students to review but in the process they forget that it is a review.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
