Hello Colleagues, Among my favorite instructional activities are those that can be used to assess how much students have learned. One I use a lot, most recently in the citizenship classes I’ve been teaching, is the classic cooperative learning technique called “Numbered Heads.” In Numbered Heads, students work in a small group of three or four. Each student is assigned a number. The teacher poses a question and indicates which student in the groups is responsible to answer the question. For example, all those with #3 are expected to give the answer. The students should work as a team to come up with the answer, but the assigned student is expected to respond.
When teachers listen in to the small group conversations, we can determine who has learned the content and who still needs help. Importantly, working with peers offers an opportunity for everyone to deepen their understanding while they learn from one another. This kind of cooperative group work can also engage learners in constructive conversations, which can support students to improve their academic language skills.
If you’ve used Numbered Heads in your teaching, please tell us how this had worked for you. Have you used it for math? Social studies? Science? What other cooperative learning techniques have you used in your teaching that offer insights into student learning?
Cheers, Susan
Moderator, Assessment COP
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Some activities that I will be using: jeopardy – a simple game that I will use as a review for the semester with sections for vocabulary, grammar, content and writing strategies. This game will not only be fun for the students but for me as well. I will be able to tell who has learned what and what needs additional attention in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
Hi Irina (and all), Playing Jeopardy can be a wonderful way to assess who has learned the content you have been teaching. One thing I really like about Jeopardy for English learners is that they have to give their answer in the form of a question. This gives everyone a chance to practice the important question words in English, a skill that many students need help with.
What other games have you used successfully to assess students' learning?
Cheers, Susan
Moderator, Assessment COP