| As we head into week seven of the semester, you are probably in the thick of tests, projects, and papers, getting ready for the push toward midterm grades. Did you take a few minutes to do some midterm course feedback? Now is an ideal time to make those subtle adjustments or remind students why you do things a particular way. A little effort now can have some positive payoffs for the rest of the semester.
One of the challenges of this time of year is keeping students motivated. The novelty of the first few weeks has worn off, and the daily grind is starting to wear. Hong Jiang provides suggestions to motivate and engage the whole class. The first part shares ideas about designing your course to keep students motivated. You won’t be able to change things midstream, so please consider these suggestions for classes next semester.
What you can do this semester is in Part Two of this short article are suggestions on formative feedback. These ideas ensure students are “picking up what you are putting down.” These low-stakes methods ensure students understand the major concepts or have developed the essential techniques needed for your class. The methods are often called CATS – Classroom Assessment Techniques – and you can find more examples here. |
