Classroom Assessment Techniques
(CATs)
Critical Thinking Conference Workshop
May 23, 2007
J. Pino
J. Mullaney
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
CATs are . . .
Convenient
classroom tools that
help educators get reliable and
instant feedback about students’
learning.
•For the purpose of improving
teaching and learning
•A way to promote interaction
with students
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
Features of CATs
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Fast: many of the CATs take less than a few minutes of
class time to use.
Easy: many CATs are as simple as asking a question and
collecting the written answers.
Comfortable for students: they often value the chance to
communicate via writing. Although anonymity is not
mandatory, sometimes anonymous CATs can yield valuable
information.
Flexible: the individual educator chooses how and when to
use them.
Customizable: Although there are many published CATs,
educators who use them generally invent more as they
become comfortable incorporating them into their teaching.
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
CATs are not . . .
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A tool to evaluate and grade students
A tool to evaluate instructors
Intended to replace grading
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
One-Minute Paper

Please answer these questions on the index
card provided.
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What is the most important thing you learned
so far about CATs?
What important questions remain unanswered?
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
Examples of CATs
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One-Minute Paper
Muddiest Point
One-Sentence Summary (WDWWWWHW)
Misperception/Preconception Check
Background Knowledge Probe
Categorizing Grid
Defining Features Matrix
Pro and Con Grid
Content, Form, and Function Outlines
Analytic Memos
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
Your turn
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Ways to adapt and expand
Situations in which you would use
classroom assessment techniques
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
Advantages of using CATs
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Obtain feedback from all students because they
are less inhibited and because of their anonymity
Get honest answers and fundamental information
regarding what they didn’t understand or why
they didn’t understand it.
Opportunity to be more objective because you can
sort through the answers and reflect on teaching
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007
References
Angelo, Thomas A. and Cross, K. Patricia.
1993. Classroom Assessment Techniques:
A Handbook for College Teachers, 2nd
Edition. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.
Mullaney and Pino, May 2007