Formative quizzes involve students taking a quiz that does not count towards a grade, to check their own understanding of a subject.
Instructions
- Inform students at the start of the lecture that an ungraded quiz will be conducted the end of the lesson. (If quizzes are going to be provided throughout the semester, inform students at the first lecture of the semester.)
- At the end of the lesson, present the quiz to the class and give students 5-10 minutes to answer.
- Give students the correct answers and ask them to mark their own quizzes.
- Provide students an opportunity to ask questions.
Tips
Share reasons for doing an ungraded quiz with your students to help with motivation and buy-in. Completing these formative quizzes helps students to be aware of key information that they don’t know, so that they have guidance around what they need to study and ask questions about before summative assessments.
Consider collecting the students’ quizzes and looking over them after class to get insight into areas that students may need more guidance in.
Resources
Quiz questions.
Variations
- Make it student-made quizzes: Have the students create their own quizzes and ask them to pair up and take each other’s tests.
- Make it peer marked: After completing the quiz, ask students to exchange quizzes with their neighbour. Provide them with the answers and have them grade each other’s quizzes. Ask them to discuss answers with their neighbour and clarify doubts if possible.
References
Can Ungraded Quizzes be Effective? « Notes on Teaching and Learning