Checking In for Back to School

Check-ins are a great way to get people, adults or students, talking to each other, especially at the start of a new school year. They can learn more about the ones they’ll be working and learning with, as well as themselves. Here’s why you should utilize check-ins as a way to break the ice this back to school season!

What Does the Research Say About Using Check-Ins?

Research supports the use of check-in questions with both students and adults as a valuable tool for enhancing learning. Here’s a concise overview of the key findings:

1. Formative assessment: Check-in questions serve as a form of formative assessment, allowing instructors to gauge understanding and adjust instruction accordingly. (Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and Classroom Learning. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 5(1), 7-74)
2. Active recall: They promote active recall, which strengthens memory and improves long-term retention of information. (Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-Enhanced Learning: Taking Memory Tests Improves Long-Term Retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249-255)
3. Metacognition: Checking in encourages learners to reflect on their own understanding, fostering metacognitive skills. (Schraw, G. (1998). Promoting general metacognitive awareness. Instructional Science, 26(1-2), 113-125)
4. Engagement: They can increase engagement and participation in the learning process. (Dallimore, E. J., Hertenstein, J. H., & Platt, M. B. (2013). Impact of Cold-Calling on Student Voluntary Participation. Journal of Management Education, 37(3), 305-341)
5. Identifying gaps: Regular check-ins help identify knowledge gaps early, allowing for timely intervention. (Hattie, J. (2009). Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. Routledge)
6. Spaced repetition: When used systematically, checking in can implement spaced repetition, a proven technique for enhancing long-term memory. (Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H. K., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using Spacing to Enhance Diverse Forms of Learning: Review of Recent Research and Implications for Instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378)
7. Feedback loop: Setting aside time to check in creates a feedback loop between instructor and learners, improving communication and tailoring instruction. 
8. Confidence building: Successful responses to check-in questions can boost learner confidence. 
9. Adult learning principles: For adults, check-ins align with principles of andragogy, respecting their experience and promoting self-directed learning. (Knowles, M. S., Holton III, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2015). The Adult Learner: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (8th ed.))

Some Free Check-In Tools

Here are a couple of great check-in resources with tons of questions to use.

• Check-In Generator – You can filter these questions by four different approaches: caring, daring, laid back, or work focused.
• Check-in Questions – Perfect for adults
• 14 Editable SEL Check-In Templates – Great blog with downloadable templates from TCEA
• Daily Check-In Ideas for Remote Learning – It may say for remote learning, but these work face to face, too.
• 130 Ideas for Check-In Questions During Remote Learning – Again, these work for F2F learning, too.
• 66 Unexpected Getting-to-Know-You Questions for Students

Try out a few of these and let me know how they work by responding in the Comments section below. Have a great school year!