Created by Laura Guertin, Pennsylvania State University Brandywine; Carol Ormand, SERC; Gregor Novak, United States Air Force Academy; Andy Gavrin, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis

What is Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT)

Just-in-Time Teaching focuses on improving learning by the use of web-based assignments that are delivered before a class meeting. The instructor can quickly gather information about student performance and understanding immediately prior to the class meeting so that the day's lesson can be tailored to actual student needs. This type of activity meets several goals:

• Creating a student-centered environment in the classroom
• Improving faculty-student interaction (individually and in groups)
• Improving content mastery (by rapid clarification of misconceptions)
• Developing group interaction skills (through on-line group activity)
• Encouraging students to monitor their own progress.

Learn more about Just-in-Time Teaching

Why use Just-in-Time Teaching

Benefits for Students: Students are engaged with course content outside of class and before coming to class, which leads to increased learning and motivation to learn. They come to class prepared for the lesson, which leads to better use of classroom time.

Benefits for Faculty: The pre-class assignments ("WarmUps," "Pre-flight checks," ...) allow instructors to assess student understanding of the course material. They come to class with a better understanding of their students' state of knowledge, beliefs, misconceptions, frustrations, etc. Instructors who use JiTT can more easily establish rapport with their students, and create an interactive environment in the classroom.

Learn more about the benefits of JiTT for students and instructors

How to use Just-in-Time Teaching

The first step in implementing JiTT is to develop a set of questions which will be posted online for students to answer before class. They may be posted using a course management system, or a basic web site. For a small class, they may even be disseminated and returned via e-mail. The questions should be open-ended, requiring text response. They should explore students' prior knowledge and beliefs about the material to be covered in a single lesson. During the semester, the instructor posts the questions and the students respond online some hours before each class session. Just before class, the instructor selects excerpts from the student responses and brings these to class. These responses form a basis for the interactive class session. Thus students become active participants in constructing the subject matter content.

Tips and resources for using JiTT

Examples of Just-in-Time Teaching

Search a collection of example warmup questions, student responses, and classroom tips.

Examples of JiTT

References on Just-in-Time Teaching

Consult the references used to construct this website, as well as additional resources for further reading on JiTT.

List of references

JiTT in Action

San Francisco State University has developed a series of video clips about the use of Just-in-Time Teaching in Dr. Karen Grove's geology classroom. It includes commentary on why she uses it and how it works in the classroom. Click on the image at the left to check out this great resource on the MERLOT ELIXR website.