Ms. Kelly could use a more interactive and informal opportunity to check for understanding by using white boards. I am sure the teacher is looking for a specific or focus response from her students. When checking for understanding, the teacher wants to know what each students knows. A simple finger response could be a copy from a friend or what the masses are gesturing. However, informally, Thumbs-up, Thumbs-down allows for immediate feedback.

Depending on what she is teaching, it could be effective. If the strategy were to show me one way to make the number 5 and students held up three fingers on one hand and two on the other, then I think that is effective. If she is simply doing it to try to get them engaged in what she is doing, then it may not be as effective. She could use questioning, think pair shares, sticky notes, etc. to do quick checks for understanding with students.

I have done this method to check for understanding in my class, but found students who didn't understand just put up their finger to move on. I struggled to find different ways to check understanding and one of the most effective was to ask summary questions. At the end of the class or during a transition ask each student to state one sentence about the topic discuss in class. You could also ask more direct questions to check for understand. I found by doing this I am able to catch mistakes and misunderstandings before they leave the room.

Ms. Kelly can also you exit slips or a ticket out the door. Each student does this independently and she will surly be able to check for understanding.

Ms. Kelly could use here current method to understand student thought process, but it is not an effective way of assessing complex questions that she may ask students. If she is looking for quick and individual responses, she could use various resources like PollEverywhere or individual whiteboards.