Knowledge Checks: how and when to use them

As educators, we are always seeking ways to ensure students truly grasp and can apply the key concepts we teach. Simply asking “Has everyone understood?” or “Can we move on?” rarely yields reliable information, as students may not feel confident to admit confusion or may not even realise they have misunderstood. 

One highly effective strategy is the frequent use of knowledge check questions – quick, low-stakes, formative questions, embedded within course materials and designed to quickly test comprehension of a specific key concept. They are typically ungraded and focus on providing immediate feedback and opportunities for self-correction. Knowledge check questions help both students and staff gauge understanding in real time, supporting deeper learning and more responsive teaching.

What makes a good knowledge check?

Effective knowledge checks are short, focused, and aligned with your learning outcomes. They require students to actively demonstrate their understanding, providing you with clear, actionable data. They usually take the form of a multiple-choice, multiple-select or a true/false question.

• Uses simple, clear language that is easier than the target concept itself.
• Focuses on the core concept being taught, not on peripheral details.
• Can be answered decisively, often with a short answer such as “yes/no,” or a choice.
• Checks all important aspects of the concept, sometimes using a small set of questions to cover potential confusion.

Benefits for students and staff

• Immediate feedback: Students receive instant feedback on their responses, enabling them to identify and address gaps in understanding straight away.
• Active engagement: Breaking up content with interactive questions keeps students attentive and supports active learning.
• Increased retention: The act of recalling information through regular checks helps reinforce learning and improves long-term retention.
• Actionable insights: Lecturers gain insight into student participation and performance, making it easier to identify topics that need further clarification.
• Reduced anxiety: Unlimited attempts and low-stakes format allow students to practice without the pressure of grades, building confidence over time.

New inline Knowledge Checks in Blackboard Ultra

A very welcome advancement in Blackboard Ultra is the new inline knowledge check feature available in Documents. This improvement allows lecturers to include interactive questions directly within Ultra Documents, rather than requiring students to navigate away to separate quizzes or tests.

To add a Knowledge Check question to a document in Blackboard Ultra:

1. Within your Ultra document, click the plus (+) icon then select the Knowledge check option from the document options menu (see image above).
2. This opens the Question panel, where you can enter your question text, add answer options, and select the correct answer(s).
3. You can add more answer boxes as needed and edit the pre-filled feedback to provide specific guidance for correct and incorrect responses.
4. Once you save, the knowledge check question appears inline within the document, allowing students to answer without navigating away from the content.

When editing a document containing a knowledge check, instructors can view the statistics displayed above the knowledge check block within the document itself. This allows for immediate access to data without navigating away from the content, and provides valuable insights into student engagement and understanding.

Why is this important?

• Seamless learning experience: Students encounter questions exactly where the relevant content appears, making the learning process more intuitive and reducing cognitive load.
• No need to navigate elsewhere: Unlike previous versions of Blackboard, where quizzes were separate from the content, knowledge checks can now be placed inline, ensuring students remain focused and engaged without breaking their workflow.
• Automated, editable feedback: Instructors can provide tailored feedback for correct and incorrect answers, supporting student learning in real time.
• Unlimited attempts: Students can try questions as many times as needed, fostering a growth mindset and encouraging mastery.
• Detailed analytics: Instructors can monitor participation, number of attempts, average attempts to correct answer, and even see which answer options are most frequently selected. This data helps tailor subsequent teaching and identify common misconceptions early.

Using knowledge checks in online and blended courses

• Chunk content: Add a few knowledge check questions after each key section of a lecture or reading to reinforce learning and encourage regular revision.
• Formative quizzes: Use knowledge checks as ungraded, formative assessments to help students self-assess their understanding before moving on to more complex topics.
• Feedback loops: Review analytics regularly to identify areas where students are struggling and address these in follow-up sessions or resources.
• Inclusive design: The inline format is accessible and reduces barriers for students who may find navigation between multiple pages or tools challenging.

Using knowledge checks in the live classroom

The same principle of checking understanding can be applied in live teaching by regularly pausing to ask direct, concept-checking questions. This approach gives you immediate feedback on student comprehension and helps address misconceptions on the spot.

Alternatively, you can use interactive tools like Mentimeter to conduct live knowledge checks. Mentimeter allows you to pose questions to the whole class, collect responses in real time, and display results instantly.

Conclusion

The new inline knowledge check feature in Blackboard Ultra represents a significant step forward in creating engaging, responsive, and effective online and blended learning experiences. By embedding knowledge checks in both your online materials and live sessions, you create a more responsive, engaging, and inclusive learning environment.