A different way to use the ‘Out The Door’ strategy.

Scenario:

After teaching a new concept you want to find out what your students have learnt. Rather than using pen and paper for assessment this idea will give you a quick overview of new learning achieved by your students or review of past learning.

 Try This:

• As the students leave the room for recess or lunch break ask them, ’What did you learn during the last lesson?’ (See Tips for options)
• Tell me about – (add your own ending). It could be a mathematical concept, literacy or Inquiry question.
• What is?
• How do you?
• Show me something they have learnt using bodily kinaesthetic e.g. a Roman numeral, a mathematical angle, an odd number over 100. Have students form the answers with hands, fingers and body shapes.

Outcomes:

• You gain quick feedback from students
• It’s a different way for the students to think and present their learning
• The questions you can ask and the learning students can explain or demonstrate are endless.
• The discussions generated and ideas presented when students pair up will further ‘lock in the learning’.
• Every student provides feedback to you rather than a few during a whole class discussion at the end of a lesson.
• Interesting responses might include: I learnt that Riley is really kind because he helped me by modelling how to do the equation and then he made me do one by myself. I learnt you should always read the information before you answer all the questions. I learnt that I need to buy a new eraser because it’s a nuisance always having to borrow one when you make a mistake.

Tips:

• Stand at the door to hear everyone’s responses.
• Instead of using the word learnt, try ‘notice, discover, find out, ’,
• Get students to pair up and demonstrate an answer with a partner as they leave the room.
• Allow a few minutes before break time for students to prepare their answer when presenting with a partner.
• Be prepared for some surprising responses.