Assessment Strategies for Student Learning.

Formative assessment - In-class; takes the pulse of the class; not high stakes; helps students learn or helps students reinforce what they have learned

Summative assessment - takes place at the end of the course; usually graded and therefore high stakes.

Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs for short)

• in-class exercises that helps instructors teach or reinforce a concept in class
• collects feedback during class
• provides gauge for instructors on what students have learned in class (met learning outcomes).  Indirectly, it helps us reflect on our teaching strategies and strengthen our teaching skills.
• for single-session classes, CATs can serve both as formative and/or summative assessments (for that session).
• CATs are useful active learning exercises appropriate for single- or multi-sessions classes.

Classroom Assessment Techniques 

Contains detailed instructions for a variety of CATs for use in the class.  Each link contains the activity and a lesson plan to guide the usage of the CAT in your classroom.  

A. Background Knowledge Probe

B. 1000 Level Misconception

C. Categorizing Grid

D. Checking for Understanding

E. General Questions

F. Grouping Sources of Information

G. How to find a scholarly article

H. Minute Paper

I. Evaluating Sources Checklist & Summary

J. Paraphrasing Boolean operators

K. Pre-Post Class Quiz

L. Scholarly Popular Categorization

M. Working with a Topic