The criteria should be heavily based on the learning styles of your students as well as what the instructor feels comfortable with giving and evaluating. Never fear going out of that comfort zone.
Content should be determined and in alignment with course learning objectives. I enjoy compiling a test of a variation of testing measures, multiple choice questions, essay and standard. The diverse learners also express themselves differently so to offer various testing opportunities during testing or throughout the course are keys to providing all learners with a platform to succeed at his or her individualized level of learning.
Hi Paul - Good choices of assessments! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It should be related to the objectives and also what field the student has chosen to be in. It IT, for example, skills application tests combined with objective tests which tests the students retaining of information regarding computer technology is appropriate.
Hi Leann- Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that the reading assignmnets that students have been given should be discussed in class and be reflected in assessments.Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I do not like to test my students over book content that we have not discussed in class
I review my daily lesson plans when determining my testing content. My tests must reflect what is taught each day in my class.
Hi Amanda - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using an excellent strategy for assessment! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
we use both true/false and multiple choice
I feel the criteria for selecting testing content should be base on what the instructor taught and the objectives of the course.
When I create the tests for my class I keep in mind what we discuss in class, what they need to know for the job and the course objectives, working in the healthcare profession you have to know more that basic book knowledge, so I give them questions that make them prioritize and think before just automatically jumping at the first answer they like.
Hi Melissa - Thanks for your post to the forum. That is an important to keep in mind when creating tests - does the test accurately assess what was covered in the class? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Karen - thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a great variety of assessments! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I find that different classes my require different types of testing methods. If it is a laboratory class you may test on paper and skill application. When I usually test I use a variety of testing methods on the test (multiple choice, true/false and completion). The students seem to like the variation on the tests.
The biggest criteria I use for selecting which content I will use in a test is how much is covered and what valuable information is a must know. I find that the information that I would continually cover is the information I will put on a test for students. I want students to feel like I covered what is on that exam and not feel like I threw them any curve questions.
I like to use a variety of test questions. True false, multiple choice, and later in the class I will add essay questions. I think of variety will help all types of learners and to help me assess their needs.
I use a test generator then go through to make sure that I have gone over everything.
Very good reply. The course objectives drive the entire course. Testing, naturaly, should reflect the same.
I agree that material on the test was covered in the lecture and class discussion. Students get upset when there are questions on an exam that was not covered in class.
When selecting my testing content, I focus on the lecture/discussion within the class and what I expect for the students to retain and give back to me which will show how well they absorbed or excepted the information/content of the course.
