I confess I used this very technique today in my Intro class of 200. I reminded
the class we have a test coming up next week and asked if they had been keeping
up with the reading. Few nodded their heads. I then asked them to close their
notebooks in preparation for a 10 point multiple choice quiz over the materials
we've been covering the last 2 weeks. I passed out the quiz, asked them to
write their names at the top, and told them they had 10 minutes to finish. As
they grimly got to work I switched on my big STRESS graphic on the first slide
of my Powerpoint presentation, told them to put the "quiz" in their bookbags to
help them study for the test, and proceeded with a discussion of stress,
predictable vs unpredictable stressors, etc. Although we have not had a pop
quiz, I had not explicitly ruled out that possibility (we often have
unannounced class activities worth points). Students have always responded
positively (once the pressure is off) and have even sent emails applauding the
technique. I agree it is a technique that has been written up in one or more
teaching books. Don't we use a variety of brief deceptions in a lot of in-class
demonstrations?
Linda Walsh
University of Northern Iowa
