Likert Scale Builder

"…we need to nurture strategic learners who can sort, analyze, compare, contrast, synthesize, infer, apply, make decisions, and use information meaningfully in their lives."
Thier

OVERVIEW

A Likert Scale is a widely-used survey tool that is especially useful for assessing students’ prior knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and misconceptions about a certain topic. Completing a Likert Scale requires a student to identify the degree to which they concur or disagree with a series of interrelated statements. The Likert template offered here is a five-point range that can be customized for any topic, subject, or issue.

IMPLEMENTING THIS ACTIVITY

Create a series of carefully worded statements pertaining to the subject or issue that you want students to consider.
After you have completed your list, define the levels of your scale; example criterion could include numbers or qualifying statements that express varying levels of agreement/understanding.
Before introducing a new topic, distribute this survey to the students. Be clear in your directions and expectations.
Use the data you collect to influence and inform your instructional decisions.

CONTENT AREA APPLICATIONS

Science – When addressing a controversial issue, such as Embryonic Stem Cell Research, employing a Likert Scale will expose students’ personal beliefs as well as their prior understanding of the issue. Possessing this data will help you to gauge the social climate of the classroom.

Health – A Likert Scale can be used as an opportunity for students to rate their emotional, physical, and social health. The resulting visual representation of their respective health levels will expose what area they might try to address in their personal health plan.

ASSESSING THIS ACTIVITY

Student responses will not be assessed to assign a grade; however, the collective survey data will serve as useful tool in determining what aspects of the topic or misconceptions need to be addressed and in what manner.

MANAGING THIS ACTIVITY

If you choose to include personal opinion or controversial survey questions, assure your students their responses will remain confidential. In some cases, you may insist that students do not enter their names on the survey.