May 2018 Link Roundup

A few items I've come across that merit being pointed out.

• While I'm somewhat biased against multiple choice questions, RetrievalPractice.org has a discussion of how they can actually be good learning tools. The key is that the incorrect alternatives must be plausible enough to make the student retrieve information about each one.
• If you really want to supercharge multiple-choice questions, try this idea from The Effortful Educator. Students comment on why someone might choose an incorrect answer, how the question might be modified to make an incorrect answer correct, and more. If you use clicker questions, this activity might make good homework.
• A promising type of math practice -- same surface, different deep structure problems.
• Finally, Diana Senechal as usual embodies thoughtful learning, this time in a post about praise in American and Hungarian schools.

What kind of praise is appropriate in the classroom? Those of the “growth mindset” persuasion often say that teachers should praise students for effort, not for ability or accomplishment. That strikes me as too rigid; different situations call for different kinds of praise. Sometimes students do need to hear that they have a particular ability or that their work stands out. What matters is that the teacher praise and criticize thoughtfully, not automatically, and that she avoid using praise (or criticism) as a way of exerting control. When students depend too much on teachers’ praise or take it too much to heart, they lose their own critical sense. A teacher’s praise should help students find their way.

I'm on a reading binge about motivation and curiosity, so expect posts about that soon.