Beyond the Basics: Classroom Assessment Techniques

Ever wonder whether students are making connections, understanding key concepts, or keeping up with what you're teaching? Building on the AY26–27 ISU Annual Student-Centered Learning Workshop, this interactive session explores practical Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs) that help make student thinking visible while encouraging active participation.



Go beyond entry tickets and quick polls to experience strategies that help students explain, apply, and reflect on their learning. You'll explore how to use what you learn from students' responses to make small, meaningful adjustments to your teaching. Leave with a few ready-to-use strategies you can adapt for your next class, without adding significant preparation or grading.



By the end of the session, participants will be able to:


Identify CATs that make student thinking visible and encourage active participation.
Adapt a CAT to gather evidence of student learning related to a specific learning goal in one of their courses.
Consider how student responses can inform instructional decisions.




Facilitated by Laura Bestler, Program Specialist III, CELT