By Danyelle Hennington

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Snapshot

Type of Interaction: Individual > Group
Type of Activity: Low Stakes

Credit
Dr. Jennifer Ahrens: Department of Health & Human Performance

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Description

Many instructors need a quick and easy way to assess students on readings at the beginning of class. This strategy incorporates both individual and group participation in a low stakes quiz.

Process

Separate students into groups. Students are separated into groups. The number of students will depend on the class size and the length of the quiz. Ideal group sizes are between 5-7.  If classroom layout allows, each group should arrange themselves in a circle.

Distribute the quiz. Hand out the quiz face down to one member of each group.

Explain the rules. The first student in the group will record the names of all students on the back of the quiz. When the instructor calls “begin,” the student will turn the quiz over and spend 30 seconds answering as many questions as possible. When the instructor calls “time,” the student will pass the quiz to the right and the next student will spend 30 seconds silently answering as many questions as possible. This goes on until the quiz has made at least one circuit around the group.

Note: If a student is unable to finish a thought, the student following may finish the answer. If a student answers incorrectly, a student following may draw a line through the incorrect answer and write the correct answer.

Review answers. Once the quiz has made a circuit around the group at least once, give students 2-5 minutes to review the questions as a group and reach consensus about the answers before handing in the quiz.

Take up the quiz and review it as a class. Gather the completed quizzes and then review the answers as a class

This method of administering a quiz allows students to work independently to answer questions first, then work together with the group to correct their answers. The activity is best suited for low stakes activities such as reading quizzes.