Best wishes to you in your career too, Susan.
Karen
Projects seem to assess the knowledge of hands-on learners better than the "test taking", such as a multiple choice test. With the testing, I think part of the score reflects a student's confidence and/or anxiety levels, as well as their knowledge of the content. Someone with high test anxiety will not have their knowledge reflected accurately by many tests.
Do students need to know terms and definitions, or do they need to be able to apply the concepts to a real-life situation?
Will the test be scored by computer or instructor? Computers mark correct completion answers wrong at times if spelling is wrong, or the plural is given rather than singular...
I go by what the students react best to. If I see the students pick up & retain information quickly from just reading the text then I go with the written exam. If they do better and learn better from my lectures then I'll do an oral exam.
I also go by what the course content is. If I'm doing an intro course I'll do a lot of multiple choice questions; if its a more advanced class then I'll do a essay exam.
I look more for physical response to the course material being presented. Classroom questions and tests are the end result of how well the class a whole picked up the information being presented. The tell-tell signs of possible communication failure between the instructor and class is what I call the “deer in the headlight responseâ€. The general makeup of every class is different not only in how they receive information, but what vehicles a instructor will use to connect with that given class. Classroom results are a never ending evaluation of instructor performance and course subject matter
The subject I am teaching drives the format of the tests I administer.
Hi Jeb- Thanks for your post to the forum. it really is amazing how knowing the learning styles of our students gives us much more insight on how to teach them! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I recently learned about the theory of learning styles, and I am a huge fan. The same must be true of testing styles. I know I am terrible at standardized tests (SAT, GRE) but tend to do fine at work, and other practical application(s). Finding a few different ways to test students of the period of a course is only fair.
Hi Amy - Thanks for your post to the forum. You have a very logical approach to choosing assessments for your students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It often depends upon the style of class. Is it more creative in nature? Than I would utilize an essay style test. Is their skill-based component? Then I would utilize a skill application test in order to assess their knowledge of the material. i try to avoid standardized tests as they only assess what the book or course material states - not what the students might have learned in class or in their outside research.
Hi Johnathan - I guarantee that "Just their Math Instructor" will give them skills that they will use throughout their lives! Susan
I am a math instructor. Some of the classes I teach meet 2 hours twice a week, and some of them are 4-hour block classes that only meet once a week.
In the twice a week classes I will write a 1.5 hour test (In the case that some students take longer than others). The test will involve a variety of problems, from the routine to the application problems. The students know that I don't shy away from the "dreaded" story problems because of how often we work them together in class.
However, in my 4-hour block classes, I have occasionally done the following: Give the students a 2 hour in class exam, and then use the second 2 hours to do a cooperative learning activity. Sometimes this is in class, but sometimes it is in the field. Yes, it is unusual for a math class to go on a field trip. I, for one, think it is great to do interdisciplinary work with the students, and they really enjoy showing me how passionate they are about their work (even though I'm just their math teacher).
Hi Michael - Thanks for your post to the forum. I'm glad that you have found some interesting ideas in this class! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I take into consideration the content of the course and which type of testing method will best allow the students to demonstrate a their comprehension of the material.
We basically have two types of tests. The first is our matching tests based on lecture and our pratical applications tests based on the hands part of our study. After reading through the forums i have come up with several other ideas which will benefit the students.
The style of assessment will vary based on the subject matter. We have had good success in the math-based classes by allowing the students to complete spreadsheet or table style questions directly on the test booklet. Previously, every assessment was a sentence-style, multiple choice assessment.
I use a variety of testing formats. My class is a lecture and a lab, so some of it is skills application. On the test I use numerous types of testing questions.
Most of the tests used are multiple choice, though some are mixed with true false. There are very few essay questions. Due to the course material, the tests which weigh most heavily are all skill application tests. These give us the greatest feedback on the retention and application of the course topics.
Hi Herbert- Thanks for your post to the forum. I'm glad that you have gotten some information that you will be able to use in your classrooms.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
we use several type questions on our tests, mutiple choice. true false and tech. a , tech b and all these answers are correct EXCEPT and the students respond well to the variety of questions and it really tests their knowledge of the subject.
