Featured Instructors:

Tania Leal, Ph.D., University of Iowa alumna

Overview:

Cooperative quizzes allow students to use assessment as a learning tool.

Benefits:

• Encourages student preparation and confidence
• Encourages student participation
• Improves student understanding
• Encourages knowledge retention

Description:

Tania Leal uses cooperative quizzes to turn assessment into a learning tool that improves understanding, retention, and motivation. Cooperative Quizzes (also called group quizzes, collaborative quizzes, pyramid exams, or two-stage exams) are assigned to groups after students have completed an individual quiz. Groups are responsible for coming to consensus on each answer, which will require them to discuss and debate course material. Students’ grades are calculated by weighting both the individual and the group assessment. Leal has found that this strategy encourages thoughtful discussion and more sophisticated understanding of major course themes by engaging students at that key moment when student receptiveness for understanding is at its peak.