Re: Why..

[Tom Walkiewicz <walkiewicz@EDINBORO.EDU>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Heafner <heafnerj@VNET.NET>

> BRAVO!!!! AUTHOR!!!! I do something like this on my tests, particularly the
first test in each course. At the very end of the instructions paragraph, I
instruct the student to make a mark in a certain place on their test sheet
or answer sheet. The actual mark and place both vary from test to test and
from term to term, but the results are hysterical! On my first astronomy
test this semester, 3 out of 14 students put the mark in the correct place;
the rest did not even put the mark at all! Those who did got two extra
points on the test.
>

This reminds me of a few years ago when on the first day of the semester I
passed out an enrollment sheet and asked the students to place a check mark
immediately to the left of their last name.  The class was a first course in
microprocessors and I was astounded about what I got back from the students.
Check marks were all over the place!  I then felt a cold chill in thinking
about how this course would proceed for the rest of the semester.  I was
right!  It's amazing what can be learned from such simple observations.

Tom Walkiewicz                        walkiewicz@edinboro.edu
Dept. Physics & Technology
Edinboro University
Edinboro, PA 16444