Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs)

Hello Reader,

Do you love cats? Not those furry cute ones but Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs), which provide feedback about student learning. This source of data is anonymous and represents students' learning, which reflects your teaching. CATs are administered at the end of class. There are many different kinds, shapes, and sizes (over 50). Here are three easy to use CATs. These can be used in classes of any size and online.

Muddiest Point

At the end of class, ask students to put in the chat (only visible to you), on a piece of paper, or other online format, the one concept they need further instruction about. This gives you a chance to see if you achieved your learning outcomes and if you need to address this concept before moving onto further material in the next class. This way, you do not leave some students without the foundational knowledge they need to continue learning in the course.

Application Cards

Ask students to apply what they learned in lecture and write it down. Once you gather all the responses, you can see if students were able to appropriately apply their knowledge and the concepts learned. Depending on responses, you can then address misconceptions in the next class.

Minute Paper

Have students reflect on one or two main points they learned in class. You can push them to reflect further by asking them to describe why this was important to them and how they will extend their learning about this concept.

CATs data for your teaching dossier/portfolio

CATs provide excellent data for your teaching dossier/portfolio. Include a sampling of student responses to show how you support their learning. You can scan or type out some of the responses and include a range of responses. Then, detail how you responded to the sampling.

References

Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teachers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Angelo, T. A., & Zakrajsek, T. D. (2024). Classroom assessment techniques: Formative feedback tools for college and university teachers (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

To your teaching success!

Dr. Cynthia Korpan, Director, ITeach: Certification in Higher Ed Inc.