Three things you can do this semester to improve student learning

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Three things you can do this semester to improve
student learning!

• Kent Johnson, PhD
• Director of Assessment Services
• Arkansas State University

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A Scholars Perspective on College Education

• http//lazowska.cs.washington.edu/scienceforum/sld
  085.htm

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Activity One Thinking about student learning

• Complete the survey and discuss in groups of two
  or three.
• http//assessmentserve/cgi-bin/qweb.cgi?3Z7ETQV

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Three Common Challenges to Student Learning

• Students do not prepare for class
• Students are not engaged in class
• Students are unsure of how they are progressing

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Addressing the Challenges

• Integrate assessment and learning activities
• Include some active learning elements that
  require student engagement
• Provide feedback loops

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Things to Do - 1

• Challenge Students do not prepare/do not attend
  class
• Solution Readiness Assessment Testing

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Readiness Assessment Test

• Step 1 At beginning of class require students to
  answer three to four questions you expect them to
  know as a result of the homework assignment
  (collect responses)
• Step 2 Have students group with neighbors to
  discuss their individual answers and arrive at a
  group answer
• Step 3 Based on group responses reinforce or
  move forward with planned learning activities

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Readiness Assessment Tests - Suggestions

• Substitute average score on RATS for the class
  participation grade.
• Add a couple of questions per week that require
  students to stretch mentally
• Bank the questions for future semesters
• Connect RATS to lecture through extending groups
  to solve unstructured problems, do desktop
  experiments, etc.

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Things to Do - 2

• Challenge Students are not engaged in class.
• Solution (s) ConcepTest, Mini - Capstone Projects

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ConcepTests

• Step 1 After completing 15 minutes of lecture,
  stop and present your class a multiple choice
  question.
• Step 2 Have students select their answers using
  color coded index cards
• Step 3 Pair students and have them debate their
  answers to arrive at a consensus answer
• Step 4 Reinforce or continue

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Mini-Capstone Projects

• Step 1 Develop a short problem or project that
  requires students to apply the knowledge gained
  in a unit.
• Step 2 Assign problem to groups of 3 to 5
  students as an in-class assignment
• Step 3 Have groups present solutions to the
  class, or
• Step 3 (alt) Have individuals prepare a small
  report on the solution as homework for the next
  class meeting

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Things to Do - 3

• Challenge Students do not understand how they
  are progressing in a class
• Solution Focused listing

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Focused Listing (Angelo and Cross, 1993)

• Step 1 Select an important concept or topic just
  studied and describe it in a word or brief phrase
  on a sheet of paper
• Step 2 Give class copies of the paper and have
  them create a focused listing of five to ten
  related terms, phrases, or concepts that are
  important to understanding the topic.
• Step 3 Organize data to see how it aligns with
  your learning goals for the concept or topic

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Integrating Assessment with Teaching and Learning
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