{"id":285,"date":"2019-10-22T14:36:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-22T18:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/?p=285"},"modified":"2023-08-29T10:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T14:30:00","slug":"encouraging-completion-of-pre-class-assignments-with-the-roll-of-a-die","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/2019\/10\/22\/encouraging-completion-of-pre-class-assignments-with-the-roll-of-a-die\/","title":{"rendered":"Encouraging Completion of Pre-Class Assignments with the Roll of a Die"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Shawn Simonson, Boise State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dice\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it: most of our students just do not do the pre-reading or homework that you want them to do prior to coming to class.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Those who research this sort of thing would suggest that it is because they do not see the need or value in doing so.\u00a0 And, they do not have the intrinsic motivation to overcome this perceived lack of value.\u00a0 Unfortunately, simply telling students that something is important and that they will need it later \u2013 either for the test or in the workforce \u2013 just does not carry enough weight to increase intrinsic motivation and get them to do the pre-reading and\/or other pre-class assignments.\u00a0 So, how can we help them find a little more motivation?\u00a0 By creating extrinsic motivation and helping students find value in the assignment by making them routinely accountable for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many options for increasing accountability and encouraging students to do the pre-reading and many incorporate some sort of assessment \u2013 usually at the beginning of the class in which students will need and use the information.  Making these assessments periodic and random is more useful than a routine schedule (Ruscio, 2001).  One such tool that students seem to value and enjoy is Fernald\u2019s Monte Carlo Quiz (MCQ)<\/strong>.  Fernald (2004) originally developed the MCQ for upper division undergraduate psychology courses to not only inspire students to do the reading, but to also encourage them to read at a deeper level, to truly try to understand the content, and to enhance retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Fernald\u2019s original iteration of the MCQ, he wrote five standard questions that could be applied to all assigned readings: 1) Knowledge of the content, 2) Comparison of two ideas in a reading, 3) Application of the concepts to the student\u2019s life, 4) Critique of an idea within the reading with a rationale for agreeing or not, and 5) Passion in which students identify some passage from the reading that elicited an emotional response.  Students were routinely assigned six chapters or articles for pre-reading.  The Monte Carlo name of the method comes from the way in which randomness was determined \u2013 by up to three rolls of a die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Implementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of class, a student rolls a die.  An odd number on this first roll means \u201cno quiz\u201d and class proceeds.  If an even number is rolled, there will be a quiz and the student rolls the die a second time to determine over which of the assigned readings the quiz will be.  The student\u2019s third roll of the die then determines which of the five previously mentioned questions students will address, with six being student\u2019s choice.  Student question responses were limited to one paragraph of no more than eight sentences and graded on a four-item scale from Exceptional to Unsatisfactory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fernald reported that students reported increased motivation, doing more pre-reading, and preparing more deeply than they might otherwise.  In addition, they liked the format and felt as if they had more control of the process.  He also stated that his teaching transitioned to more active learning and problem solving because the students were better prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MCQ format can be modified to fit almost any instructor\u2019s needs by adjusting the question types and formats, the pre-class assignments, and who generates the questions (students vs. instructor).  Others have found similar student and teaching outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n