How Learning Works

APPENDIX A What Is Student Self-Assessment and How Can We Use It?

One way to gather feedback on students’ prior knowledge and skills is to ask them to assess their own level of knowledge or skill. The objective is to get an idea of the range of abilities and experience of the class as a whole, not to evaluate individuals. Questions can focus on knowledge, skills, or experiences that you assume students have acquired and are prerequisites to your course, things that you believe are valuable to know but not essential, and topics and skills that you plan to address in the course. Students’ responses to such questions can help you calibrate your course appropriately or help you direct students to supplemental materials that will help them fill in ...