Report #5

FIPP Activity Report

Funded by the Basic Skills Initiative

Name Kaysa Laureano / Date 12/11/2009
FIPP Partner Trudy Meyer
Section #0346
Activity /Strategy Make-Up your OWN Final
Category Take-home
Briefly describe the activity/strategy.
1. Introduction Students were asked to come up with 5 questions for their Final Exam
2. Set up & Supplies The list of "what to know for final" that I made up, book, classroom notes, and handouts given in class.
3. Directions Students were asked to make-up 5 questions they felt would be good questions for the final. They were instructed to pick any section and to NOT answer the questions. The next class day, they exchanged their 5 problems with other students (I picked the student… wanted to make sure that they had a chance to work with students they normally DON"T work with) and given 20 minutes in class to try the problems. When the 20 minutes were up, they worked with new students and both worked on problems.
4. Conclusion Students really enjoyed the activity. They enjoyed working with other students and some commented that they actually understood working with the new people.
What worked well? The instrunctor picking the people to work together. It was the end of the semester and I knew my students fairly well and I picked the pairs very well.
What would you change? More time. I did this exercise the last week of the semester. Next time, this exercise will be done for all exams and final.
Would you use the activity/strategy again? Why or why not? Yes. I see much value in students thinking about what will be on a test. It's a great way to study.
Please describe any student learning outcomes/changes that you observed after the implementation of the activity/strategy. Students studied together for the final. After this exercise, new people were introduced to study groups.