Innovation Center for Teaching & Learning

Assessment Techniques

Tips for Kish Faculty

Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs)

Non-graded ways to gauge your students' learning in real time.

The Book

Available for checkout in the Innovation Center. This book describes over 50 CATs and how to use specific CATs for different cognitive levels and tasks (Application, Problem Solving, Learning and Study Skills, etc.). A great tool for scaffolding! 

More About CATs

Two simple and very popular CATs are the Minute Paper and the Muddiest Point. For details on these and many other techniques, please see the CATs book above and the K. Patricia Cross site linked below.

• Minute Paper: Students identify the most important thing they learned in class, and what questions they still have.
• Muddiest Point: A shorter version of the Minute Paper. Students identify the muddiest (most confusing) aspect of a learning activity. 

K. Patricia Cross Academy Techniques

CATs-style techniques with demo videos, free teaching materials, and adaptations for online classes.

The Website

Technique Example: Three-Minute Message

Online Adaptation