The mini whiteboard strategy is a quick and efficient formative assessment technique used in classrooms to gauge student understanding of a concept. Students individually answer a question or solve a problem on their mini whiteboards and then simultaneously display their answers. This allows the teacher to instantly assess the class's overall comprehension and identify students needing further support.
How the Mini Whiteboard Strategy Works:
- Instant Feedback: The teacher gets immediate feedback on student understanding, allowing for adjustments to the lesson in real-time.
- Increased Participation: Every student actively participates, contributing their answers and engaging with the material.
- Anonymous Responses: Students can feel more comfortable sharing their answers anonymously, promoting honest responses.
- Visual Assessment: The teacher gains a clear visual representation of the class's collective understanding, identifying common misconceptions or areas of strength.
- Differentiated Instruction: The teacher can readily identify students who need extra help and provide tailored support.
Benefits of Using Mini Whiteboards:
- Quick Assessment: Provides rapid feedback on student learning.
- Improved Engagement: Increases student participation and active learning.
- Effective Formative Assessment: Helps teachers adjust their teaching based on student needs.
- Versatile Tool: Can be used across various subjects and grade levels.
- Cost-Effective: Mini whiteboards and markers are relatively inexpensive.
Mini whiteboards, coupled with erasable pens, are simple yet effective learning tools that enable students to record and share their thinking, and teachers to assess that thinking simultaneously. They allow teachers to engage with students' thinking, understanding, and problem-solving abilities. This strategy maximizes the use of mini whiteboards to quickly and efficiently gather information about class understanding.
