Checking for Understanding
Strategies for Checking for Understanding & Formative Assessment
Imagine a classroom where every student is fully engaged, their understanding continuously monitored and supported. This is the power of Checking for Understanding – a practice that transforms the learning experience for both teachers and students.
By frequently Checking for Understanding, teachers can pinpoint areas that need reinforcement and adapt their instruction in real-time. It's like having a finely-tuned radar system, allowing them to course-correct and ensure no learner is left behind.
But Checking for Understanding isn't just about identifying gaps; it's about empowering students to take charge of their learning journey. When students are actively involved in assessing their comprehension, they become invested partners in their educational success.
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Checking for Understanding is the key to unlocking differentiation. It enables teachers to tailor their approach to the diverse needs of their learners, ensuring that every student receives the support they need to thrive.
Moreover, Checking for Understanding promotes responsive teaching and learning. By providing immediate feedback and allowing for adjustments on the fly, it creates a dynamic, collaborative learning environment where both teachers and students can adapt and grow together.
Perhaps most importantly, Checking for Understanding fosters learner agency. When students are encouraged to question, explore, and discover, they become active participants in their learning, developing the skills and confidence to navigate their educational paths.
Here are strategies to help make your classroom a vibrant hub of interactive learning.
Verbal Strategies
Interactive Strategies
Digital Tools
Here are some examples of digital tools and online platforms that can be used for the "Give Me Five" strategy and more.
(Click/Tap to View)Here are some examples of digital tools and online platforms that can be used for the "Give Me Five" strategy to allow students to submit their understanding levels anonymously or in real-time:
Plickers: Plickers (https://www.plickers.com/) is a free student response system that uses printable card sets and a mobile app. Students can hold up their assigned card with the appropriate letter/number facing the teacher, who scans the room with the app to record responses anonymously.
Mentimeter: Mentimeter (https://www.mentimeter.com/) is a popular online platform for interactive presentations and real-time polling. Teachers can create questions, and students can submit their understanding levels using their devices, either anonymously or with names attached.
Kahoot!: While primarily known for gamified quizzes, Kahoot! (https://kahoot.com/) also offers a polling feature called "Kahoot! Ask." Teachers can pose questions, and students can respond in real-time using their devices, with the option to display responses anonymously or labeled.
Google Forms: Google Forms (https://www.google.com/forms/about/) can be used to create simple polls or surveys for students to indicate their understanding levels. Responses can be collected anonymously or with identifying information, depending on the form settings.
Socrative: Socrative (https://www.socrative.com/) is a student response system that allows teachers to create quizzes, polls, and exit tickets. Students can respond using devices, and the teacher can view responses in real-time or review them later.
Pear Deck: Pear Deck (https://www.peardeck.com/) is an interactive presentation tool that integrates with Google Slides and allows teachers to embed questions and polls. Students can respond anonymously or with their names using their devices.
Formative: Formative (https://goformative.com/) is a comprehensive classroom assessment platform that includes tools for creating and administering polls, exit tickets, and other formative assessments. Student responses can be anonymous or identified.
When using digital tools or online platforms it's essential to consider factors such as student access to devices, internet connectivity, and the platform's compatibility with the school's technology infrastructure. Additionally, teachers should ensure that students understand how to use the chosen tool and feel comfortable submitting their responses anonymously or with their names attached.
Creative Strategies
Kinaesthetic Strategies
Note: The above documents were created by Paul Ketko @ inspiringinquiry.com with the assistance of ChatGPT and Claude AI
More Checking For Understanding Ideas
8 Closing Activities to Wrap Up a Lesson | Edutopia| Aug 9, 2024 | Ensure that the work of today doesn’t fade away with these engaging closure exercises that check for understanding, clear up misconceptions, and lock in learning.
8 Quick Checks for Understanding | Edutopia | January 28, 2021| Formative assessment is a proven technique for improving student learning, and the strategies shared here by Jay McTighe work both in the classroom and remotely.