Suggestion 93. Schedule an oral quiz with each student

IF YOU WANT TO:

• Know if the class is understanding you or not

• Know if students are bored or confused

• Identify problems individual students may be having

• Get to know your students better

Scheduling an oral quiz with each student in your office.

One teacher of engineering reports giving oral quizzes in which a student is given a series of problems to solve on the blackboard in his office. He has found this technique invaluable in understanding how students tackle problems.

"If you look only at students homework," he says, "you'll know whether they got a problem right or wrong, but it won't tell you why. Observing students as they apply concepts and solve problems gives you much more useful information about where your explanation or those of the textbook skip a step or are unclear."

Limitations on Use of Suggestion

  Discipline:  Sciences and professional
Course Level:  None
 Course Size:  Probably not above 30
        Mode:  None

Copyright 1983 by the Regents of the University of California

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