IF YOU WANT TO:
Including an "extra credit" question on your midterms and final exams which asks the students to write an exam question rather than an exam answer.
One version of this approach has found its way onto the Berkeley campus via a visiting Penn State professor and is used by several faculty members. The original extra credit question is worded:
"Almost inevitably instructors fail to ask you in an exam all those things for which you so carefully prepared. As it happens, writing good questions is almost as difficult as writing adequate answers. Thus, to give you your turn on the pitcher's mound, if you have the time and the inclination, write an original exam question. You will receive between 0 and 10 points depending upon the quality of your question. JUST THE QUESTION PLEASE, DON'T SUPPLY THE ANSWER."
This technique helps establish a good rapport with students, gives you additional information on their sense of what is important in the course, and can become an excellent source of possible future exam, quiz, or discussion questions for the course.
Limitations on Use of Suggestion
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