Getting Started with CATs
- Step 1: Planning
- Select one course
- Choose a CAT
- Complete the CAT yourself!
- Set aside module time for the CAT
- Chose technology for delivering the CAT and/or collecting the responses
- E-mail
- Discussion Board
- CMS Survey or Quiz
- Web-based form
- Step 2: Implementing
- Inform students:
- What you are doing
- Why you want the information
- Assure that the purpose is to assess learning and not to "grade"
- Use anonymous responses unless the students earn points for completing the CAT
- Prepare CAT
- Post directions/messages for e-mail and Discussion Board CATs
- Create survey, quiz, or form with instructions
- Collect student responses
- Analyze responses ASAP
- Step 3: Responding
- Close the feedback loop
- E-mail
- Post announcement
- Post message on Discussion Board
- Choose type of response
- Informative
- "Sixty percent of you thought that Topic A was the muddiest point and about 20% of you each mentioned Topic B or Topic C."
- Tutorial
- Provide an additional study guide or links to reference/review material
The primary attention of teachers is focused on observing and improving learning.