FREQUENT QUIZZES
I like the idea of giving frequent quizzes . It is an open alley for learners to walk into the field of materials that they just freshly learned.
Frequent quizes is a swell idea to indirectly getting feedback from students to see how our teaching techniques work, or how much information actually retained in their mysterious minds.
Regena, great job mixing things up and providing opportunities for students with different learning paths to do well on your quizzes. What are some of the methods you use to ensure your students know that your quizzes are part of the learning process and just a way to rank them within the classroom or within their program of study? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Scott, I give frequent quizzes as well, however, I use several methods. I give announced and unannounced quizzes and sometimes will give an oral quiz so that the student who fears the "typed" test, may possibly feel a little more autonomy. I love quizzes, they do not sound as intimidating to the student as'exam'.
MICHAEL, what analysis do you use to determine how effective your pop quizzes are with respect to achieving your desired learning outcomes? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
I also give frequent quizzes i will even give a pop quiz in the begining of class on the days activities listed on the syllabus.
Scott, what impact do the frequent quizzes have on those that do not test well? Do you use the results of the quizzes to review materials most frequently missed by students? Thanks for any additional information you can share.
James Jackson
I also like giving frequent quizzes, i give a quiz every day at the top of the hour. It is the first thing I have them do after reading the board and seeing what is planned for today's class. I do this at the beginning of class so I can see who will arrive on time and who is motivated and also helps with there grades as well.
Pedro , the key to your comment is you set the expectations early in the classroom. Students know what to expect and you follow through with your plan. Quizzes can be a useful part of the teaching and learning process as long as expectations are set early.
James Jackson
At the beginning of teh term I inform students that by default they will have a quiz at the beginning of each class. I thinks it works for them as they pay more attention and keep up with the material (most fo them).
Also, given the large number of quizes, I allow them to drop 2 or 3 of them. This takes out a lot of anxiety.
Robert, using quizzes as a teaching tool is great. Students need to know the assessment process is part of learning and not just a way to rank students or to categorize. Preparing for a quiz and reviewing the results with discussions on the subject materials missed is more valuable than the quiz alone.
James Jackson
When I was in college, I had a professor who gave a 10-question quiz at the beginning of each class. He often repeated most-missed questions on the quizzes, and Dennis is right; they served as great ongoing review and overview of the class content. It enhanced my confidence because the early content of the course was brought up everyday. The daily quizzes demand discipline, which creates a daily routine of studying for them. That discipline can influence other classes.
Daily quizzes encourage study groups.
I have found that the more quizzes I give and review, the more the students start to open up and get involved. They seem to break out of their shells and listen. They begin to explore more ways to view subject material. This equals more learning opportunities they have to learn.
I give frequent quizzes also, this helps me to see what the students are not getting as well as they should, and then to address these topics interactively with the students in class. I also allow them to retake the quizzes once we have gone over the content more extensively. At this time, I let the students retain a copy of the quiz to use for a study guide for the exam that will come later.
I alos give frequent quizzes, but mine are not pop quizzes. I inform my students at the beginning of the term that if we are not scheduled for a test that class there will be a quiz. I feel this keeps their attention and also provides a way for them to see what they aren't understanding. After the quiz, I go over the answers briefly and answer any questions.
Dennis, do you find that the increased frequency helps to build additional confidence with your students? How often do you encounter students that have some form of test anxiety?
James Jackson
I am in favor of frequent quizzes also...it is a great study guide for future tests and helps students remember the material
Ashley, great point about changing the name away from quiz. I have used the phrase, "Check Up Report" or "Success Indicators" which seems to take some of the anxiety away from the students. They know they will have some form of assessment during the midway and end of the course so the "Success Indicators" are simply measures of where they are at that point and time and provide them with study aids to prepare for the "actual" tests. As test day approaches we cover the "Success Indicators" as resources to prepare and students know going in they know the materials and they are ready to be successful. May not be the best fit in all cases but has provided me with some really great results.
James Jackson
Frequent quizzes are fine as long as the 'type' of assessment is varried and fits what is to be measured. All assessment really needs to be measurable. Quizzes can be overly stressful if they are given 'just to keep students on their toes'. Oral quizzes and alternative types of quizzes work best with early childhood education curriculum.
I do not like the idea of frequent quizzes, unless the students are allowed to drop a certain number of scores. I work in student services, and I hear about test anxiety so often, it makes me wonder if many of these students would do better if the assessments were not referred to as quizzes but practice or some other less intimidating title. From my experience, telling a student that there will be many quizzes in a term often times gets them so nervous that they have a hard time finding any security in their ability to pass these quizzes. Also, I think pop quizzes take away autonomy completely, because it strips the student of the idea that they have control over the learning process.
In an earlier thread, someone noted the difference between quizzes as indicators on how well the students are doing, versus quizzes serving a disciplinary purpose. I fear that since so many students get so nervous, quizzing can feel much like discipline to them even though it's not.
