Hi All, For the past seven years, I offered the veterinary students with learning disabilities the possibility of starting on the iRAT during the 10 min break before class. At first, one or two took me up on this offer, but most would not. During the past several years, no one, not even those with documented learning disabilities did so. They tell me that it is important for them to be with their teams and this works for them. I attribute the change to the use the five minute rule to time when the students turn in their iRATs. It adjusts the time allotted to the difficulty of the iRAT. For those of you who don't know the 5 minute rule, I received the idea from Derek Lane in 2004 -- he reposted it in 2010. I pasted his great explanation below: Holly Holly Bender, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP Associate Director, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Director, Preparing Future Faculty Program 3024 Morrill Hall 515-294-3584 Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011-1250 [log in to unmask]<http:[log in to unmask]> http://vetmed.iastate.edu/users/hbender<http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/faculty_staff/profiles/hbender.asp> From: Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lane, Derek R Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 9:43 PM To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: timing IRAT and TRATs I posted this response in 2004 to the TBL listserv ( http://list.olt.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0410&L=TEAMLEARNING-L&P=R119&Y=jim.sibley%40ubc.ca ) but thought it may help to repost . . . THE FIVE MINUTE RULE Basically, I allow everyone in the class five minutes more than the slowest individual on the fastest team to finish taking their individual (and their team) tests. Let me explain by way of example. As students finish their individual tests, they place their individual scantron forms inside a team folder. As soon as everyone on one team has finished their individual test and placed them in the group folder, one of the team members brings the folder to me. I then announce to the class that the "5 MINUTE RULE IS IN EFFECT." Everyone now has 5 minutes to complete their individual tests. This procedure prevents individuals to benefit from overhearing teams talk about the TRATs--it also provides a quiet and respectful atmosphere for students who require silence to perform effectively on quizzes. I also use the 5 MINUTE RULE for the TRATs. As soon as the first team is finished with their TRAT I announce that the rest of the class has 5 minutes remaining to finish their TRAT. This prevents teams from wasting class time as they know that nothing else can be going on in the classroom while they are finishing their test. When I was first exposed to Team-Based Learning as a graduate student in 1993, I was amazed that students (both graduate and undergraduate) were able to complete their IRATS within the allotted time. I have been using TBL primarily in communication courses with undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky since 1996. I've also used them with statistics and research methods courses. Students with learning disabilities are able to complete the IRATs in the time allotted without any problem. Though, when I have visually impaired students I have to provide a reader and another ajoining classroom (or office) so that the blind student can be given the IRAT orally. In many cases, the blind student finishes the IRAT well before any of the other individual students. The 5 MINUTE RULE should eliminate the problems associated with IRAT honor issues. As far as feedback from individual IRATS: I scan each of the individual IRATs as the teams are taking their TRATs (preferably with the IF-AT cards). When the first team finishes their TRAT, they bring either the Team scantron form (or, the completed IF-AT form) to me. I record the team score on the board (for comparison purposes and for global feedback to the class) and place the IF-AT form (or Team scantron form) inside the team folder which I return to the team. Individual team members the record their individual scores, their team score, and (when appropriate) begin writing appeals. Hope this helps. -Derek Derek R. Lane, Ph.D. Associate Professor H. Lester Reynolds Endowed Professor in Engineering Department of Communication<http://comm.uky.edu/> 249 Grehan Building University of Kentucky<http://www.uky.edu/> Lexington, KY 40506-0042 Tel: (859) 257-2295 Fax: (859) 257-4103 Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Faculty website: http://www.uky.edu/~drlane On May 29, 2012, at 4:18 PM, Molly Espey wrote: I've also allowed time before class. I've also had many more students who have approval for accomodations but decide they can take the iRAT during the time allotted in classes. It seems to have worked out fine in general. Molly Espey, Professor John E. Walker Department of Economics Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634 ________________________________ From: Team-Based Learning [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Heath Marrs [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 5:00 PM To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: students with learning disabilities Hi Renate, I've had students who have testing accommodations come by my office 10-15 minutes before classtime (depending on their allotted time) and complete about half the iRAT, then they complete the rest of it during the regularly scheduled iRAT time (generally 20 minutes of a 50 minute class period). This has worked fairly well so far. Heath Marrs, Ed.D. Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Central Washington University 400 E. University Way Ellensburg, WA 98926 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Office: 509 963-2349 FAX: 509 963-2307 >>> "Gebauer, Renate" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> 5/29/2012 1:28 PM >>> Hello, I was wondering whether there is anybody who has experience with students with learning disabilities for Irat and Trat. In the past I had students with documented learning disabilities who were allowed 1.5 times the allotted time for exams and quizzes. Any suggestions how to handle that situation. It is the first time that I am using TBL this fall and just want to be ready if the situation comes up. Thanks in advance for ideas Renate Gebauer Environmental Studies Keene State College Keene, NH 03435