JiTT Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a "JiTT" and a "warm-up"?

While the acronym JiTT refers to Just-in-Time Teaching, we also use the shorthand "JiTT" to refer to JiTT warm-up questions.  So, in many cases, there isn't any difference between the two.  The two terms, in context, can be used interchangeably.

Do I need a course management program to use JiTTs? 

Course management programs such as WebCT and Blackboard greatly ease the distribution and collection of JiTTs. In addition, some textbook publishers provide access to similar course management programs to institutions free of charge when using one of their texts.

How long should I give students to submit their JiTTs?

Students generally have a few days between posting of the JiTT and submission of their responses. For example, if teaching a class that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we might post a JiTT question on Thursday evening, with a response deadline of, say 11 p.m. on Monday evening. This provides enough time to review the responses and plan how to incorporate their responses in class.. 

What’s the best way to use JiTTs in class? 

The easiest way to use JiTTs is to copy representative student answers, either electronically or on paper. Use these responses as illustrations during the lecture (students love to see their work made public) or ask students to analyze a student answer in pair or group work.  See our examples at this site [give link]. 

Won’t students copy one another? 

In our experience students infrequently copy each other’s work in JiTT assignments probably because each JiTT constitutes only a small part of the grade and the penalty for copying is high. Nonetheless, electronic submissions do increase the ease with which students can send their work to others. If copying is a concern, create JiTT questions that require different answers from each student, for example by asking them to write their own short case study or to study a country or corporation beginning with the same letter as their name. 

Should I attach names to student work used in class?  

It is important to announce to students that their JiTT submissions may be used in class. In most cases we find it best not attach names when student work is posted. Also we are careful not to use a submission that may embarrass a student because of its low quality, poor English usage, or personal revelation.

How should I grade JiTTs? 

In our experience, students take JiTTs seriously only if there is an incentive, even it is a small percentage of a final grade, say 5%. We recommend that each JiTT be graded on level of completion and effort, not accuracy of the answer. In other words, students who demonstrate that they have fully thought through a question, based on the information that was available prior to class, receive full points even if the answer is wrong. 

How long should it take JiTTs to complete? 

Our students report that it takes them about 15-30 minutes to answer a JiTT if they have completed the assigned reading.

What determines a "good" JiTT question?

The key to a good JiTT is the JiTT question. The question should require students to think carefully about specific concepts, principles, or ideas that will be addressed in the upcoming class. Students should be able to answer JiTT questions in a few sentences but the question should also require them to explain how they arrived at their answer. Good JiTT questions cannot simply be answered by reading a brief section in a textbook or article, but require students to connect ideas or present a rationale for their answer based on theory, analysis, or evidence.

Can I contribute my JiTTs? 

We encourage instructors to contact us with their questions or contributions at ssimkins@ncat.edu or mmaier@glendale.edu

Where else is JiTT being used? 

JiTT was developed originally for physics instruction and has been used extensively in other natural sciences. See www.jitt.org 

• How  much time does this take?
• How do students respond to JiTT?
• Does it really improve student learning?
• Can you use JiTT in large classes?
• How many people are using JiTT in their classes?

Updated: 1/2005