Finding the ability of the class
In one of the pages for this module, the following statement was made: "Questions that are dramatically below (or above) the abilities of students will bore (or confuse) students. Target questions, even on difficult subjects, within the range of the ability level of the majority of the class."
How do we find the level of the students' abilities? What can we do in a short course (small number of contact hours or only a few weeks)?
I have trouble finding the general abilities of the students when one of my classes may have students who are nearly newbie status up to those ready to graduate with a bachelor's degree and everything in between.
Sometimes I can find out the abilities prior to assessments when I open the discussion for review of materials, then never answer those questions. That is, I ask other students to answer the question. I hope that I create role models for all students by allowing good students to lead. It makes more students feel as though they are participating.
