The purpose of this technique is to encourage students to become more active and more aware in the classroom. Students are prompted throughout the class to give a response in order to assure the teacher that they are listening and can accurately repeat material being presented. This technique enables students to stay actively engaged while at the same time revealing to the teacher what material she or he may need to review.
· Each student is given a dry-erase board and an appropriate marker.
· As the teacher begins to teach, the students may take notes on the side or on regular paper.
· The teacher will pause after delivering some of the material planned for the lesson and will ask a few questions in regards to the material.
· Each student will have a minute or so to write the response on their dry-erase boards.
· The teacher will ask the class to raise their boards so she or he can see who has been paying attention and/or what she or he needs to readdress.
In some cases, students may not have the ability to write their responses. In these situations, an assistant/peer may write the response for the student.
E.T.S.U. Make A Difference Project, 2002-2003