This document provides strategies for motivating students to take an active role in their own learning. It discusses using tools like readers' guides, reading strategies, and readiness assessment tests to help students evaluate their comprehension of assigned readings. Different types of evaluation tools are described, such as quizzes, pre- and post-exams, and mid-semester surveys, and guidance is given on selecting the right tool based on the learning objectives. The goal is to give students means of self-assessment so they can strengthen areas of weakness and take ownership of their learning.

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Getting Students into Gear
Strategies For Motivating Students to
Become Active Learning Agents

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Sound Bite Agenda
Welcome
Objective
Guiding Questions
“Getting Students in Gear” – Preparing students for success
Tools for Evaluating Student Learning
Which Evaluation Tool To Use when
Wrapping it Up
Discussion Questions

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Objective:
This Sound (Teaching) bite will offer a few strategies and tools for
Educators to help students assess their own learning style and
ability to comprehend, understand and learn course reading
material.

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Guiding Questions:
How do you know if your students are understanding,
comprehending and learning their course reading material?
How do you get your students to do the readings?
How do know your students are learning and absorbing content?
Guess what- They may not know either!
How do I help students be accountable for their learning process?
I propose that with consistent assessment and evaluation deeper
learning can happen.

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“Getting Students in Gear” -
Preparing students to succeed and get to know their learning
process:
• READER’S GUIDE (Example 1)
• Reading Strategies to Enhance Learning (Example 2)
• Making the review of Assigned Readings Meaningful (Example 3)

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Tools for Evaluating Student Learning
Quizzes (anonymous) JiTT
Readiness Assessment Tests (RATs) or Online mid-semester and
end of year Survey (ungraded) JiTT
Pre- and -Post exams (graded)

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Which evaluation tool should I use?
Evaluation needs to connect to Learning Objectives
Why are you evaluating?
• To make sure that students prepare for classroom discussion?
• Preparing students to succeed on class exams?

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Wrapping it Up!
By giving students the tools of evaluation they can begin to assess
their own learning therefore making themselves active agents in
their own learning process. Giving them their own sense of what
they may need support in strengthening.

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Discussion Questions:
What do you think?
What experiences do you have to share related to this topic?
What questions does this presentation raise for you?
How interested are you in learning more about tools and methods
of evaluation?

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Links to Relevant Resources:
Reading Strategies
http://www.mindtools.com/rdstratg.html
Using Reading Prompts to Encourage Critical Thinking
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/using-reading-prompts-
to-encourage-critical-thinking/
Making the Review of Assigned Reading Meaningful
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/making-the-review-of-
assigned-reading-meaningful/
How Do We Measure Learning?
http://blog.bokcenter.harvard.edu/2012/03/05/how-do-we-measure-learning/
Key Terms: Assessment
http://blog.bokcenter.harvard.edu/2012/02/08/key-terms-assessment/
Authentic Learning
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3019.pdf

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Fin!
Henrietta M Menzies, MSIN
Faculty Professional Development Specialist, Co-coordiator TechCats Program
Center for Teaching and Learning
University of Vermont