"Checking for Understanding" (online article) outlines 7 "formative assessment strategies that give teachers a better way to gauge the level of understanding within a class" -- quick and easy ways to "see who gets it, who needs more practice, and who has no clue" -- "all of which have the added benefit of increasing student engagement."
1. Index cards
- "Have students prepare index cards of answer choices."
- "[T]he teacher can read a problem and then students hold up the appropriate card associated with the correct [response]."
2. "Real-time student response applications"
- "Students ... use their [devices] ... to quickly answer prepared questions about the concept that’s being taught."
- "The chosen technology then collects and displays answers in real-time so that the instructor can analyze and assess student learning."
- Some recommended tools for this: Nearpod, Socrative, Padlet, Kahoot, and EduCreations.
3. "Four corners"
- "[Set] up answers to prompts in four corners of the room" and ask and a (judgement) question.
- "Students physically move to the corner with their chosen answer, but then must justify their response to fellow students in the class."
4. "On the line"
- "[E]stablis[h] an imaginary line that spans the room, ... mak[e] a series of statements and [have] students decide if they agree, disagree, or are neutral."
- "Students ... to the side of the room or point on the line according to their agreement or preference."
5. "Admit/exit slips"
- Before class, "ask students to write a sentence describing something they know about the topic about to be covered in class ... on the 'admit side' of the ticket."
- After class, "ask students to write down a summary of the topic or something about it they want clarified ... on the 'exit side' of the ticket."
- This shows "prior knowledge, ... level of understanding after the lesson, and ... what needs to be retaught."
6. "Jumbled summary"
- "Write key words or phrases from an explanation or introduction in random order on the board."
- "After the material has been presented..., ask pairs of students to ... put [the terms] in a logical sequence as a knowledge check."
- "This ... works well with math processes, a sequence of historical events, events in a piece of literature, or a series of observations/analysis in a scientific lab."
7. "Art as a metaphor"
- "[P]rovid[e] a variety of artwork, photographs, images, or other symbolic representations" and have "[s]tudents choose a visual image to compare to a specific concept."
- A student might use a lighthouse to "represen[t] the teaching/learning process, or how the lighthouse operates like a human cell, a system, a historical concept, etc."
- These understandings can become writing assignments, presentations, or discussion starters.
Hurlbut, Amanda. "Checking for Understanding." Faculty Focus Premium 8 June 2018.
