Standardize Test
I do not give standardize quizzes due to the fact that I find many of them are flawed. I had a student this week upset because he answered a question incorrectly on a quiz I wrote. He answered the question incorrectly because he had taken the pratical, standardize test on the online student guide and the test gave the wrong answer.
Carrie I can agree with you there regarding the validity of standardized tests. I used one and I pointed out the objectives the question covered in the textbook. According to the text the objective was number 3 but in actuality the answer or information was found in objective 6. Needless to say I felt very embarrassed and had to use that question as a "give me" point for everyone in the class due to the incorrect placement of the objective on the tests. I do find standardized tests quite helpful when you are an instructor working a full time job, adjunct teaching and taking classes yourself but it taught me to seriously scrutinize this form of testing before I use this form of testing in the classroom again.
you are so right. I usually find alot of mistakes. I do still like to use them, I just make sure I review them first.
HI Todd - It is an advantage to be able to "tweak"the standardized tests and wise that you take advantage of that opportunity! Best wishes- Susan
If I give a standardized test, I usually "cherry pick" the questions instead of having them randomly chosen. I may also have to rephrase some of them so they reflect the appropriate levels of comprehension.
HI Dwayne- Unfortunately what you describe is indeed, at times, a problem. Since you have no recourse in terms of changing the tests, as long as you are sure that you are teaching your students based on what you know they will be expected to know in the field, then you are doing your job. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Where I work we have to give a standardized test. They are the same for all campuses and we cannot make any changes. The problem I find with these tests is that some of them seem to have been written by someone that has never actually worked in the field. It seems that the test writer read a book or the classroom material but has no technical background so the concept isn't completely understood. Then, with this partial understanding the test are written and this has lead to mistakes on the tests. Then to get it corrected it nearly takes an act of congress.
I do not like giving standardize tests and quizzes because when I write my own, I can make sure to include questions pertaining to what we covered in class. I have also found many mistakes in the exams and quizzes that come with the text books.
In most cases the standardized tests are mandated to give. In our case, we cannot write out own tests.
Hi Carrie- Thanks for your post to the forum. Wow - what ever happened to pride in your work? I can certainly understand why your student was upset! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
