- Formative vs. Summative Assessment
- Formative Assessment
- How Do You Know They Know?
- A Case for More Testing: The Benefits of Frequent, Low-Stakes Assessments
- Concrete Strategies for Frequent, Low-Stakes Assessments/Practice
- Frequent, Low-Stakes Grading: Assessment for Communication, Confidence
- Assessment and Student Engagement: Formative and Adaptive Assessment
- Using Formative Assessment to Evaluate Student Participation
- Mastery-Based Testing in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses
- Regarding Class Quizzes: A Meta-analytic Synthesis of Studies on the Relationship Between Frequent Low-Stakes Testing and Class Performance
- Online Polling
- Using iClickers for Active Learning
- Polling In No Time
- Checking for Understanding: Formative Assessment Techniques for Your Classroom(ebook available in the UTSA library)
Reflection and the One-Minute Paper
One-minute papers are often used at the beginning and end of class to help students either demonstrate their understanding of the homework or reflect on the main points of that day’s lesson. Two simple questions to ask are: “What was the most important thing you learned (during today’s class or in your reading, as applicable)?” and “What questions do you still have?” This information can help you test student’s engagement while giving you important insight into what you need to cover more deeply. No time in class? Assign it as a two-question quiz in blackboard to be completed by the end of the day.
Two Stage Exams
Do you want to keep the learning going after the exam? Consider using Two Stage Exams in your classroom. A recent study shows higher retention of course material when students have collaborative group tests immediately after the individual test.
- Keep the Learning Going by Using Two Stage Exams
- Watch a video on the Two Stage Exam process.
Increasing metacognition with Test Wrappers
While we’d like to think of assessments as a learning opportunity for students, most get their grade and forget it. But there is a way to increase their metacognition. Wrap it up! Test and assignment wrappers encourage students to think about how they prepared, where they struggled, and how they can improve on the next exam or assignment. An exam wrapper can be given through Blackboard as an assignment or completed for bonus points on an exam.
- Learn more about metacognition and wrappers
- Examples of Test Wrappers in Sciences
- APA Sample Exam Wrapper
- Research and Teaching: An Exam Wrapper Intervention in Organic Chemistry I: Impact on Course Performance and Study Behavior.
- Metacognition, course performance, and perceived competence for learning: An examination of quiz and exam wrappers.
- The use of exam wrappers to promote metacognition.