Effective methods of student assessment
What do you feel are the most effective ways to assess the learning of your students?
I agree, multiple choice is better because it allows the student to critically think about which answer would apply best
With my English and Communication class, only half of the assessment is a written test. The other half is a research presentation where they demonstrate knowledge of the field where they will be working. This allows for application of the skills in my class and the students to study their choice of research topic that is of interest to them.
Our class room written tests are all multiple choice in ASE style format. However, lab testing is a little more applied and points can be awarded for getting part of the task correct.
I like to use multiple choice and T/F questions when testing my students to measure their decision making skills. Also to gage their study habits/ note taking skills due to my lecture sessions covering all the material that will be on their exams.
I like to use various methods as it appears our students tend to want to be "spoon fed". This way it allows a better method of assessing their knowledge base.
To really gauge student learning, I think it's important to use variety in your assessments; by giving a good amount of tests and quizzes, you can alleviate some of the testing pressure by getting them used to testing, and dispersing the grade across a number of tests, rather than a few tests that are worth too much of their grade. A good amount of tests also means you can introduce some varied testing formats, from multiple choice to short essay, to give everyone a better chance of success, whether they are better at writing or memorization. Finally, it's important to assess students on more than just tests, as some suffer from test anxiety and may not perform to their full potential in that format.
I have found that my students prefer multi-choice testing. I give them a study sheet with all of them scrambled. I have tried other types of tests, but the students always complain,
Thank you,
Kimberlee Smith
We also use mostly those with some practical application too
I believe to fully assess a students progress you need to use a multiple assessment technique. You need the written tests, the hands on Labs, and the discussion time in class to determine how a student is understanding the material presented.
I feel the most effective way to test is multi choice because their third party testing is this format. Hands on testing on the instructor for skills testing has to be done. This allows the instructor to feel the actual depth and feel of the massage strokes.
In our Health Care related program, our assessments must include objective testing, mainlay multiple choice to prepare students for the Board Exam. The other necessary element is demonstrating skills in the LAB. We get a pretty good picture of students understanding of concepts.
Multiple choice, True / false, & short answer. These provide a broad assessment of the students knowledge and instructor feedback.
I give them a small piece of paper and have them write down anything they might not understand or would like to know more about. Teaching an adult is fun but many refuse to ask questions in class. These are done anonymously.
I beleive multiple choice gives me a better assesment of what the student is thinking
Using different types of testing can be a good barometer of student knowledge -- at least for my commercial driver's license program. Regulatory information is best delivered in objective formats. Skill application tests are necessary to evaluate student progress in equipment-handling. By varying the testing modes it gives me an accurate read on how the students are progressing and where, if any, they may have weaknesses.
I like to use multiple types of assessments. That way you can see how the students are thinking.
I really like to use daily quizzes as a way to frequently assess my students. Each day, students are quizzed over the material learned the previous day in class. This helps them to study in chunks as opposed to cramming and helps me to build topics on previous lessons.
Multiple choice into completion into skill application seems to be the most effective for the areas I currently instruct.
Understanding of the information through demonstration highlights a students understanding, however application through standardized testing can establish a baseline as well.
