Student evaluations
Evaluating students is of utmost importance if they are to find out what it is they should work on to improve their learning.
Student evaluations help you determine your students strengths and weakness as well as ensuring they comprehended the subject matter.
If you want students to learn new skills student evaluation is a must. The instructor should introduce the skill to be learned followed by as much practice as possible by the student with constant evaluation and feedback by the instructor. This is the key to learning new skills at a fast pace.
I have classes which contain a pretty wide mix of people--age-wise and experience-wise. To evaluate I give a short (15 questions) quiz at the end of every day to reflect what we covered. We go over it that day and further discuss the items that weren't clear to everyone. Some things might even need additional time the next day. I have been known to have these short quizzes at the end of an especially big week....same reason--Do we all understand what we have been working with? Also helps me see whom might need additional help.
Hi Steve, The feedback you are giving your students is excellent!
Susan Polick
"Evaluating students is of utmost importance if they are to find out what it is they should work on to improve their learning. "
This module opens with the concept of choosing Learning Assessments. As stated, "Instructors have the professional obligation to assess the students..." and continues down that path. Primarily, the assessment is for the Instructors to see a reflection of the knowledge and skills that the students have acquired, and to utilize those assessments to help direct course delivery.
Now, introducing CAT's into the equation, we see a variety of techniques listed. The module explains how and why the CAT's can be used. Under the Formative evaluation, the student can see their progress charted and compared, or used in an informal setting to individually recognize their own growth. Using Formative and Summative techniques, as outlined in the module, are primarily for the instructors master evaluation plan, correct? I have read, as written, it is for the students to understand their own needs. Is that not in actuality the instructor's obligation?
Although I understand the Diagnostic Testing methodology, what I am asking is more, did we not include module 4 in Module 3? "Diagnostic testing is important at the beginning of a course or a given segment of a course to help the instructor know the strengths and weaknesses of the learners so he or she can modify learning activities accordingly. Frequent short self-tests enable students to judge their performance while they are learning. Such diagnostic tests can help students develop their skills and provide the kind of rapid and frequent feedback that is so important to learning."
Module 4 ED103
http://www.papsatraining.org
And isn't that also testing for the purpose of learning strengths and weaknesses of the student as opposed to evaluating not only the students' progress, but the teaching methods and their effectiveness? Or are they one and the same?
Hi Mark, That's a good question! Actually it is a little of both. Yes, we lean a lot from CATs that can help us tailor our instruction, but because CATs are not graded we step away from the "She gave me a "D" on that test" to student realization -"I really don't understand XYZ". Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Mark, We should constantly be looking at our assessments to monitor our own instruction as well as the progress of our students.
Susan Polick
