week 9

· The Background Knowledge Probe is a short, simple questionnaire given to students at the start of a course, or before the introduction of a new unit, lesson or topic. It is designed to uncover students’ pre-conceptions.

· The Minute Paper tests how students are gaining knowledge, or not. The instructor ends class by asking students to write a brief response to the following questions: “What was the most important thing you learned during this class?” and “What important question remains unanswered?

· One Sentence Summary is just as it sounds. After a module, concept introduction, or section of instruction, ask students to summary what they learned in one sentence. Requirements for the sentence can be as broad or prescriptive as desired. The one sentence summary often takes the answers the question, “Who does what to whom, when, where, how and why?”

· The Muddiest Point is one of the simplest CATs to help assess where students are having difficulties. The technique consists of asking students to jot down a quick response to one question: “What was the muddiest point in the lecture, discussion, homework assignment, film, etc.?” The term "muddiest" means “most unclear” or “most confusing.”

· What’s the Principle? CAT is useful in courses requiring problem-solving. After students figure out what type of problem they are dealing with, they often must decide what principles to apply in order to solve the problem. This CAT provides students with a few problems and asks them to state the principle that best applies to each problem.

· Defining Features Matrix: Prepare a handout with a matrix of three columns and several rows. At the top of the first two columns, list two distinct concepts that have potentially confusing similarities (e.g. hurricanes vs. tornado's, Picasso vs. Matisse). In the third column, list the important characteristics of both concepts in no particular order. Give your students the handout and have them use the matrix to identify which characteristics belong to each of the two concepts. Collect their responses, and you’ll quickly find out which characteristics are giving your students the most trouble.

· Start, Stop and Continue: Students are asked to set up 3 labeled columns on a paper.

Under the Start column you can ask them to list anything they would like to see started. This question can be open ended or you can provide them with a list to consider, such as any teaching practices, class policies or behaviors they would like you, the teacher, to start using or implementing.

Under the Stop column ask what they would like stopped (again open ended or provide a starting point).

Under Continue column ask the students to list anything they would like to see continued.

Why Should we Use CATS?

CATs can be used to improve the teaching and learning that occurs in a class. More frequent use of CATs can:

· Provide just-in-time feedback about the teaching-learning process.

· Provide information about student learning with less work than traditional assignments (tests, papers, etc.).

· Encourage the view that teaching is an ongoing process of inquiry, experimentation, and reflection.

· Help students become better monitors of their own learning.

· Help students feel less anonymous, even in large courses.

· Provide concrete evidence that the instructor cares about learning

How Should We Use CATs?

Results from CATs can guide teachers in fine-tuning their teaching strategies to better meet student needs. A good strategy for using CATs is the following.

· Decide what you want to assess about your students’ learning from a CAT.

· Choose a CAT that provides this feedback, is consistent with your teaching style, and can be implemented easily in your class.

· Explain the purpose of the activity to students, and then conduct it.

· After class, review the results, determine what they tell you about your students’ learning, and decide what changes to make, if any.

· Let your students know what you learned from the CAT and how you will use this information.