Odd One Out
Odd One Out requires students to compare and contrast. The act of doing so gets them to think hard about specific content.
Odd One Out exercises can be open – with no definite correct answer – or closed – with a definitive correct value. Both approaches can be formatively useful to the teacher and students. The key is to find out why a student chose a particular response.
At their best, Odd One Outs should require a degree of cognitive struggle balanced against a realistic chance of success. By doing so, they should generate ‘desirable thinking’ - not too easy; not too difficult.
Focused reflection
How well do you currently use this technique?
Is it a technique you will focus on developing?
If so, what are the key features you will focus on (things to do, and not do)?