The Power of Bite-Sized Assessments: Using Micro-Quizzes to Reinforce Learning in Nigeria

For too long, across the Nigerian education system, assessments have been viewed as stressful events reserved for evaluating a student's capabilities at the end of a term or year. However, a growing shift in pedagogical approaches is reframing the role of assessments from high-stakes examinations to low-stakes tools that can enhance the learning process itself.

At the forefront of this movement are "bite-sized" micro-assessments—brief quizzes consisting of just a handful of questions that can be seamlessly integrated throughout lessons and courses. Despite their size, these micro-quizzes pack an impactful punch in reinforcing conceptual understanding and supporting long-term learning.

Dr. Badenoch, a professor at the University of Ilorin, explains the cognitive principles behind this approach: "Retrieving information at regular intervals from memory creates stronger neural connections and helps transition knowledge from short-term to long-term retention."

Rather than cramming and purging information for summative tests, the interweaving of micro-assessments promotes consistent practice in retrieving key concepts. This continual reinforcement enhances learning in a more permanent, durable fashion.

Beyond aiding retention, micro-assessments provide frequent opportunities to identify gaps in understanding. When students struggle with a micro-quiz question, it signals a need to revisit and clarify that topic area through additional instruction.

"These bite-sized checks act as diagnostic tools to see where there are sticking points," notes Badenoch. "As an instructor, they allow me to rapidly adapt my lessons and examples to focus on addressing those knowledge gaps."

For learners themselves, the regular feedback cycles cultivate greater self-awareness and self-directed learning habits. By constantly gauging their comprehension levels, students can better identify weaknesses and adjust their studying strategies accordingly.

At Richmond Gate College, a secondary school in Lekki, Lagos, administrators initiated a pilot program last year incorporating daily micro-assessments across core subjects like math, science, and English. According to Obasi, a math teacher who champions the program, students' views on the rapid quizzes evolved.

"Initially, there was some resistance and anxiety around being quizzed so frequently," Obasi recounts. "But we emphasized that these were low-stakes checkpoints, not high-pressure tests. As students realized the quizzes were learning aids to identify areas for improvement, their mindsets shifted. They became more empowered, engaged learners."

The pilot results revealed significant gains in student comprehension, with a 35% increase in year-end exam scores across the classes utilizing frequent micro-assessments compared to previous cohorts. Richmond Gate has now implemented the approach more widely.

Of course, realizing the full potential of bite-sized assessments hinges on thoughtful design and balanced implementation. Micro-quizzes should feature a strategic mix of question types to evaluate conceptual understanding beyond rote memorization. And their frequency must be carefully calibrated to avoid contributing to excessive student stress or fatigue.

But when leveraged correctly, the power of these low-stakes, iterative assessments is immense. By transforming quizzes into a naturally embedded part of the learning cycle, we equip students with retrieval practice, feedback loops, and metacognitive awareness to achieve deeper, more durable comprehension.

In Nigeria's mission to develop self-regulated, lifelong learners, bite-sized assessments could prove to be a bite-sized solution with a big educational impact.