Get Your Students Hired
I found some validation in my practices within this portion of the security topic. In my class students have quizzes every time class meets with the lowest two quizzes dropped. I review the material beforehand by going over the previous lesson's homework with the class, I allow time for additional questions, and then we take the quiz. I originally began this practice to "force" to work with the concepts taught in small doses as opposed to "cramming" before the exam, but I do believe it increases their security with their grasp of the material as well. I let my students know that the material on these quizzes is the same that will be on either their midterm or final exams and that this is in some ways their practice run at it. When I return quizzes the following class we go over the questions as a class which allows them to evaluate what they understood and what they did not and in my belief gives them a better idea of what they need help with or to focus on when preparing for exams.
LAWRENCE, getting to know your students is good but be careful in your thinking process that issuing several assessments will paint a complete picture. If this were the case then issuing dozens of assessments would be commonplace and highly documented means of achieving success. The reality is this simply is not the case. There are no shortcuts and the way to get to know your students is to spend time with them and to carry on conversations, dialog and to some level discourse. How are they able to defend their point in a conversation? How well can they use the principles of information literacy to research and provide facts on any given topic? The more you understand their knowledge or lack of knowledge of the basics the better prepared you will be to provide them an appropriate learning path that will guide them to success.
James Jackson
I find this helpful at the beginning to assess their skills from the outset, find a common ground on which to build, and finally positive feedback.
I always make sure that the students have a different attitude toward frequent quizzing. I have them look at it like a wonderful positive opportunity to keep the material fresh in their minds so it will make it easier for them later on when having that material on an exam.
Once they embrace andf trust this idea, it is always successful no matter what type of student I have in my classroom. Encouragement and passion in my teaching goes a long way!
Erica, great post. Students like choices and feeling they have some level of control in how their grades are managed. We as instructors understand that students are in full control over their grades by the way they study and perform on assessment, assignments, projects, and participation. Students just think differently and by giving them some options as to how to allocate their points towards their grade their perception is they have more control. Great job and thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
I have also used the method of a quiz grade that would allow points points to be added to a low score on an assignment or even an exam, which ever they decide. It's kind of cash in the bank. My students loved it.
Julie, please write back once you have some results to share. Our readers are always interested in the results of such changes to your past processes. Thanks in advance for anything you will be able to share.
James Jackson
I am currently implementing quizes in my course. I had not planned to drop the lowest one; however, after reading this forum I will change the plan.
Susan, I really like this methodology. Students tend to relax more when they know they can remove at least one bad day from their grades. The methodology you discuss goes a long way towards building a safe and productive learning environment for your students.
James Jackson
I encourage my students to take as many quizzes as possibe. Though I usually drop the lowest scores, I use this as a diagnostic tool to evaluate their learning and to boost their confidence.In some of my classes, when they're so confident about a topic, they'll start asking me for a quiz. It's really helpful
I give quizzes at the beginning of every class as well. I think it does help to see a lot of grades to help balance out the final score. We have "activities" through out the quarter that students will get to replace the lowest grade with whatever the "activity" grade was. Usually the "activity" maybe an extra quiz at the end of class to replace the grade from the beginning of class, etc...
I teach math at a technical college, and I also adminsiter a short quiz at every class meeting. The students know the quiz will be two or three questions from the most recent lesson, and, like Mr. Kerfin, I think it motivates students to do the homework so they know how to do the work on the quiz. I also allow questions before the quiz, and since I write my own tests (rather than using the pre-loaded tests on the CD that comes with the teacher's text) my students know that the test questions will closely resemble the quiz questions. Like Mr. Kerfin, I also use the results of the quiz to analyze what might need to be retaught, and it gives me a good idea of how well my teaching style matches the students' learning styles, and if I need to change what I do.
James, student stress can be lowered when they know their lowest scores will not count against them. Great policy.
James Jackson