I think it keeps student attention especially when teaching 4-5 hour long classes. I like to engage my students whenever possible.
Hi John= Thanks for your post to the forum. I also teach primarily online and agree that essay questions tell me much more about what my students know. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In online classes it is so easy and efficent to use testbank Multiple choices tests, but I think these test the ability to look up textbook information. I personally like to use Essays as it user higher levels of the taxonomy, although it creates a considerable amount of grading work for me. I think my students show more growth this way.
I have several. One criterion is that of subject covered. Differing topics may have differing appropriate knowledge mastery types -- factual knowledge, skill application, etc. Another criterion is the class makeup. Student age, culture, and previously demonstrated skill and reaction can lead me in one direction or another.
I think when selecting a testing format you need to determine what you want to get in the way of feedback. I usually use two or three different testing formats for my Paralegal tests. This way I am testing their basic knowledge and then their comprehensive knowledge of the subject material.
It depends on the course being taught, but skill application is very important and useful for our program (dental hygiene).
I personally do not like just true/false test as it is often a 50/50 guess answer. I like multiple choice test as it test the actual knowledge of the information and students comprehension to be able to answer correctly. I do use the standardized test banks but I do go over the questions I choose to ask and also am selective in number of questions asked so I do not overwhelm the student and it does not take too much time from the class for that day.
Feature archive
You don't need to change how you teach to improve assessment scores
It's important to remember tests are a great learning tool. You should have students evaluate their returned classroom tests to see where they need work. Also, look at last year's standardized test scores and note any relationships to your curriculum.
In my case, I noted since teaching the Constitution early in the year, my students did not do as well when they took the state test near the school year's end. I didn't want to change my curriculum because it is centered on the Constitution. So, I had students develop an encyclopedia of terms when we covered the founding fathers, and they used this to review later in the year. No muss, no fuss, and it was an integrated learning experience. The scores at our school, without any changes to the way we teach, were among the highest in the state. And we have three minority populations.
Depending on the English course that I'm teaching, I will use quizzes and essays. I genreally use quizzes from the text when the publishers provide them which keeps the testing and grading consistent for students and the course itself.
Hi Ron - Thanks for your post to the forum. The progression in the levels of assessment that you describe are quite appropriate. Students develop the skills necessary to be successful as they proceed in their education. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Tests should be appropriate to the level of learner in the course. We use more quizzes and multiple choice tests for students in 100 and 200 level undergraduate courses and begin to introduce more short answer and essay tests for 300 and 400 level undergraduate courses. At the graduate level we use all essay tests.
Dr. Ron Spicer
Hi Ann- Thanks for your post to the forum. Your approach to designing assessments is excellent. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Ajani,
I find your comment so true. Students often lack the ability to truly apply the material they are learning. Most have found success with simply memorizing the material and regurgitating on an exam.
This depends if I am writing a test for a class that is more skill oriented or theory based. When I do skills testing I make a list of the critical components of the skills and work on building a test around them. When I do tests for a theory based class I focus more on Bloom's taxonomy. Start out with basic knowledge information and then end with snythesis or evaluation.
The criteria I use depends on the class i am teaching. Sometimes a class like ethics will be better suited with essay type questions. This allows the student to debate difernt ethical dilemas. A class like dental anatomy is better suited with multiple choice and matching questions because there is more information to be covered and the answers are more straight forward.
isabel
I base my criteria over what is being taught.If it is a lecture class I use objective testing. For my lab classes I have them create projects using the skills they have learned.
Hi Paul - thanks for your post to the forum. You are really on the right track with requiring students to support their answers. It's something that they will be constantly required to do in their careers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I use matching and short essay. In the essay, the students must support their answers with facts. I think true and false testing is unfair because one word change can change fact to fiction. Short essay makes the student use their minds and at times, a students might not give the exact answer I was looking for, but they convince me by supporting their answer.
Hi Rosita - Those "mini-exams" also give your students the frequent feedback they need to monitor their own progress. Best wishes! Susan
I tend to give 3 different style exams in a form of a quiz in order to determine how best students’ regurg learned information on tests. These mini exams help me develop more objective full exams that weigh more on their grade.
