Collaborative Group Quizzes as a Novel Formative Assessment

While summative assessment measures individual progress, formative assessment is more like a training exercise than a formal evaluation, and adding a collaborative element offers some advantages. We instituted a novel method for quizzes combining individual accountability with the benefits of collaborative group learning, thus leveraging these formative assessments as opportunities for meaningful student learning. Multiple-choice quizzes have half the points for individual work and half for group work. The group portion uses IF-AT scratch-off cards (similar to lottery tickets with 5 covered answer boxes), where students discuss the questions together, then get instant feedback by uncovering the box for their collective choice. If incorrect, they discuss further and scratch off a 2nd (or 3rd) box for reduced credit. The individual pressure of the quiz is mitigated by helpful exchanges with partners in the group phase. Students find the group interactions highly engaging and the suspense of revealing the hidden answers quite stimulating. They consider their answers carefully, focusing their attention on the physics concepts being probed by the questions. Upon completing the quiz, all correct answers are revealed, and each student knows their score. This feedback loop, coupled with the group discussion and the self-correction option, provides a powerful learning experience for the students.