I started using components of WBT last school year. I just started the school. Do you ever call on students to individually answer questions to check for understanding?

I am a high school Health Teacher.
Thanks

Yah, all the time....It's ok to check to see what they know

Yeah, I call them when I feel the need to.

But remember: when they Teach-OK each other, you go around the classroom listening to their explanations and checking what they know and what they have understood from your explanation.

Best,

Edward

clrnbowdoin

In our classes we use the traditional single student answer a question and the QT (quick test) on a regular basis. The Vietnamese teachers have a strong tradition of the student standing up to answer a question so this practice continues with support by QT. The international teachers use the QT more often than individual questions when checking comprehension/memory.

For the QT I train the teachers to have the middle and high school students cover their eyes with one hand and make the thumbs up/down gesture with their other hand held high over their head.

The teachers can see at an easy glance that everyone has their eyes covered - much easier than just having the student close their eyes and trying to see who is complying or not.

I just came from a WBT workshop in Victoria, TX, and I remember Biff saying something like "never ask 'who can tell me...'" He gave an alternative at the time, and maybe it was just QT and Yes/No Way, but I think I remember seeing teachers calling on individual students during the videos we watched.

I don't like the idea of asking for individual student volunteer answers, but I wonder whether I'll be able to do a QT or a Y/No Way for all the checks for understanding embedded within a lesson (I want to check understanding of concept A to decide whether to move to concept B, for instance).

I like the idea of training them to cover their eyes and show thumbs up or down, and I'm wondering--are there more ideas out there for quick, reliable ways to check the understanding of every student during a lesson?

Thanks,
Leslie

Hey Leslie,

After playing Cutie, I find that a recipe card works really well for a Quick Test for understanding. I put a few questions on the board and have the students write down their answers and hand them in. Quick and easy!

Liann

Liann,

I like the use of the recipe card type system and do something similar. I train my teachers to occasionally (once a week) have a student leader keep track of QT questions through the period. Then at the end of the period the all or some of the questions are repeated back to the class as a short quiz.

It is up to the teacher how to administer the quiz as long as they have a paper with written answers by each student at the end of the process. Ideas have been to have the leader or teacher write the questions on the board or do them orally. The students just write the question number and answer - the original question sheet written by the leader student is kept as the master test sheet. The written quiz answer sheets are then collected and used for weekly / biweekly entry on student assessment scores. It is an easy way to monitor for understanding, reinforce learning and have the necessary assessments for our documentation requirements.

No stressing over writing and evaluating weekly / biweekly tests.

Jason

Great idea, Jason!!! Sounds perfect for junior and senior high, too!

Thanks, everyone!

Jason-- I really like the way I could use that idea to clue students in to the important parts of the lesson (if it's a QT, it's going to be on a quiz, and if it's going to be on a quiz, I should really know it).

I love the idea of a student helper keeping track of questions!

The yes/no way game works magic in the classroom, and the students have so much fun!!. Qt is a really useful, in regards to reviewing the information and deciding whether or not you should move on to the next concept. Remember you should have a 90% understanding before you move on:)


Heather Hansen
WBT INtern
2011/12

To check for understanding, I often have the students signal a 1-5 on their hands, with a 5 being," I know this so well I could teach someone else, and a 1 being "I am so confused" . I can easily group students for enrichment, practice, or reteaching this way.
One of our 3rd grade teachers has a stack of 3 colored cups for each student on the corner of his/her desk. (Just the plastic, disposable cups that you might purchase for a picnic. The students each have a green, red, and blue cup. These are stacked and placed upside down on the desk. If the student is good to go, s/he displays the green cup. If the student needs buddy help, s/he restacks so the blue cup shows. If s/he needs help from the teacher, s/he displays the red cup. This system is similar to when students place a colored card on their desk, but for some reason, the kids love the cups! It is also very visual, and easy for the teacher to see at a quick glance.
Using whiteboards or yes/no cards during the lessons is also an easy way to check for understanding. Also, when students are teaching each other during teach/ok, if you are circulating around the room you can readily pick up whether they are understanding the concept or not. If you ask students to fill in a cloze sentence, or write a summary sentence, this can serve as a "ticket to leave". As you read through these, you will be able to determine who understands and who still needs clarification or help. We, as teachers, want to be continually checking for understanding, rather than waiting to see if our students get it by their performance on a summative assessment.
Checking for understanding throughout the lesson is a great way to teach!
Deb Weigel
Co-Director, WBT Model Classrooms

Thank you! This is great. I'm always looking for good ways to check for understanding constantly. I'll definitely use the QT or Yes/NoWay, but I love that your ideas expand upon those into every second of class time. I might use the red/blue/green cups idea for my seniors!