I have found that the use of CATs allows me to get a good feeling about where the students are and where they need to go. Often, when the discussion is face to face the other students react and point out things that can lead to additional CATs and make it easier to anticipate problems and sometimes solve them before they happen. I have used a review where I give every answer to every question on an upcoming quiz without giving the students the questions themselves. I let them take notes and then ask them to prepare questions in the next class session about what they have noted. The responses tell me very clearly where the grasp of what I am trying to teach is clear and where it is muddy. I then do a mini lecture on the specific points that have the greatest number of similar responses and summarize the other points made so that the students have a high priority study guide to use in preparing for the final. This process takes about a week or two to three classes ahead of the test to implement but I have found it far more effective than a simple rehash review of the material.
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