Instead of providing students with a study guide and go over it with a class of glaze-covered eyeballs, have students write their own study guide as class collaboratively using Google Docs, Canvas page, or similar tool. This can be done synchronously in a face-to-face class, or asynchronously in an online class.

Ask students to write in complete sentences and in their own words for extra writing practice. This exercise will give them extra reinforcement, help them to self-identify weaknesses, and allow the instructor to correct mistakes before a high-stakes test.

I haven’t found it necessary to incentive this activity, but you can offer points if needed or even allow students to use the guide during the test. Google Docs will track the submissions so you can tell who posted each submission.

Submitted by:
Anne Marchant, PhD.
Director for Transformative Teaching and Learning
Shenandoah University