Assessment of Student Learning: Questioning and Discussion

Using the technique of questioning and classroom discussions for an assessment of student learning provides the teacher with an opportunity to increase their students’ knowledge and improve understanding at the same time. Teachers, however, are cautioned that they should ask thoughtful, reflective questions rather than simple, factual ones and then give students adequate time to respond.

Some suggestions to involve everyone are as follows:

• Invite students to discuss their thinking on a question or topic in pairs or small groups. Then ask a representative to share the thinking with the larger group (sometimes called think-pair-share).

• Present several possible answers to a question, then ask students to vote on them.

• Ask all students to write down an answer and then read a selected few out loud.

Teachers may also make an assessment of student learning in the following ways:

• Students write their understanding of vocabulary or concepts before and after instruction.
• Students summarize the main ideas they’ve taken away from a lecture, discussion, or assigned reading.
• Students complete a few problems or questions at the end of instruction and check answers.
• Interview students individually or in groups about their thinking as they solve problems.
• Assign brief, in-class writing assignments (e.g., why is this person or event representative of this time period in history?)

What are some of the other way you can assess student learning?

From Professional Learning Board’s online continuing education course for teachers: Formative Assessment