Course Development

Classroom Assessment Techniques for Distance Education: Buzz Groups

Karen Hallett
Instructional Consulting

Descriptions

Particularly helpful to encourage maximum participation at one time. It is therefore especially useful when groups are large, or if too many people are trying to contribute at onceor, alternatively, if shyness is inhibiting several students. Group is divided into subgroups. Discussion occurs for a few minutes. A clear task is set. Each group reports back to the whole group.

Teaching Improvement

• better uses of available technology (effective uses)
• uses of appropriate strategies for distance education environment
• provide more contact with students, accessibility
• provide information about tailoring instructional activities to meet student's needs

Improving student learning

• improve opportunities to ask questions
• improve opportunities for input and feedback
• provide more contact with students accessibility

Criteria

• equally accessible from both sites
• immediacy of use
• adaptable to a wide range of learning situations
• require minimal time investment of students/instructor
• has continued use as learning tool for students, instructional resource for instructor.