I always take the quiz/exam myself first to eliminate any confusing questions. I try to express that a quiz will be preparation for the exam and help guide them in the study/review. I grade quizzes within the same class period, if possible. This allows a class dicussion about any questions that may have confused a student and usually turns into a review session. I find that the fear of the exam is alleviated by this.
Jeffery, what types of post test activities do you perform to turn the testing process into a continual learning opportunity? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Tammy, well stated. Quizzes are also an assessment of the instructor. If the majority of students fail a quiz is that the issue of students not mastering the materials or the failure of the instructor to properly transfer their knowledge to the student? Makes for a very interesting discussion topic among instructors.
James Jackson
Tammy, thanks for adding to the conversation. This would be a great conversation to continue within The Lounge. If you are not familiar with the MaxKnowledge Lounge I highly recommend you check out the site located at http://www.careercollegelounge.com/.
James Jackson
Tracey, does your curriculum offer any other mechanisms of learning outside of reading a course text? For some students they require other forms of information transfer such as practical experience, case study scenarios, or group discussions. Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
I like to review the test early in the week so the students know what is coming. I have noticed they feel less down about missing a question because they know it is something we went over as something they would be tested on. they knew they had the opportunity to have it explained better/different to help them understand it. also knowing in advance a better idea of what is going to be on the test makes them less anxious about the test. as a result they are more relaxed and test better overall
Instructors should never use quizzes as a discipline technique. Quizzes are used as a tool to let the student know what objective or concept they need to review or possibly relearn. Quizzes help both student and instructor guage whether the information that is being taugh is being learned and understood.
The thought of a quiz being used as a threat will freak out any student. I know lots of good students that have done bad on quizzes because they froze. I can't imagine giving my students a quiz knowing they are going to probably fail as a discipline technique.
This is exactly how I feel and I do the the same ... I drop the lowest quiz grade and I review the test re-wording the questions from the test to prepare my students for the test.
There are many students who have test anxiety due to the fear of failure. It is a very valid feeling especially in the adult learner who is coming back to school after such a long layoff. I provide study points for every chapter and will provide each student with a power point handout so they can take notes right on the power point. This will provide a sense of not only security but can motivate the student both intrinsically and extrinsically. When utilizing quizzes as a form of punishment due to the students not being prepared or not paying attention will actually make them less motivated and compromise their security in your current and future classes.
As an instructor of a technical career skill (audio engineering), we use our Skills Tests not as a discipline or fear inducing technique, but rather as an appropriate and realistic real-world simulation. The tests are designed to be very similar to a scenario they will experience as an entry level professional.
Obviously the student's performance allows us to assess their progress, but it also gives them a great learning experience as well. The pressure of performing a hands on process under the supervision of an instructor is great preparation for doing similar activities as a supervisor or superior watches. Many students get flustered by the pressure of the test, but show improvement over the time of the course as they gain more confidence in themselves. One of the pieces of advice I frequently give to students is that if they have practiced and know the material, there is nothing to be afraid of!
I think that if students know that they will be tested or quizzed on a subject that they will pay more attention and take learnining into their oen hands. THey may actually even pick up a book and study from it. I think we need to use them as assemssment to gauge that learning has occured but they need to be well prepaired for every class not just on test days. This is why I really like to give Pop Quizzes. I also use a Pop quiz on days where attendence is an issue so they know that missing classes will impact the grades and they willnot want to miss any classes.
if the students know they will fail the class by failing the test, they would study.
Thank you for your response. Since I have been taking this course i have started to talk to those students that seem to be having difficulties with either test or class work verses work in the shop
(hands on). And when I find out it is a learning disorder I make sure They go to tutoring or give Them a mentor. But if They do have a learning disorder does that solve the problem? I have them for six weeks. I want them to get what i am giving them.
Do I give them a different type of test? Sixty percent of our grade is from the shop. They would pass if they were a hundred percent in the shop,or close. So I guess I am asking What more can I do once I find out It's a learning disorder?
Steven, normal anxiety about being tested on one's knowledge is definitely part of the process but there are some students that know the materials well but have a form of learning disorder or lack some communication skills that can cause them to fail at translating their knowledge onto a test. The focus here is to bring awareness to instructors and ensure they are taking the extra steps for any students that are not meeting expectations to take a little additional time to have deep rooted conversations with their students to evaluate if their lack of performance is due to poor preparation or if they may have some form of learning disorder or communication issue preventing them from being as successful as possible. I hope this helps clear up what this conversation is truly about.
James Jackson
Cheryl, sounds like you have a great strategy. Are students actually aware that you are setting them up for success or is this all behind the scenes? It could be highly valuable to let students know that you are configuring the class to set them up for maximum success which will only add to their level of confidence as they take the national boards. Having statistics on your student success could also be valuable especially if your numbers are greater than the national averages.
James Jackson
Students are always going to have a fear before taking a test. I found that if they have prepared well that fear is less. Also when I prepare them well by going over content. Make sure they know what they are going to have the test/quiz on they do better. We are a training school so I associate the test/quiz to their ultimate goal. I find by the end of my six week mod that all students, most of the time, are up to par.
Familiarity with the teaching assessments can relax the students. I give a mock quiz initially to let the students analyze the type of test/quiz questions that I use. Also explain techniques for answering since my students have to take national boards. I test using board structure so this will eliminate fear of tests with me and concurrently with board exmainations.
Marcia, sounds like your students are as prepared as they can be and you are providing great guidance. Do you have any statistics with regard to how well your students perform compared to other similar class sections taught by other instructors? Sounds like this would make for a great case study. Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Ali, for those that have attendance issues I can only assume that you feel very confident that during the enrollment process students were told of the attendance policy before they agreed to signup for classes? Attendance can be a tricky issue for working adults and at times their understanding of what it takes to be successful can be skewed. Of course if these issues are properly addressed during the enrollment phase then the students only have themselves to blame when they are tardy.
James Jackson
Julie, assessments are just as much a measure of the quality of instruction as they are the quality of learning. Sometimes it is good to take some of the fear away by allowing students to know you are measuring your own knowledge transfer skills as much as you are measuring their learning abilities. If you have 20 students in a classroom and a large percentage get a question correct then that is a good measure of the quality of instruction but if the majority get a question wrong then the instructor needs to look within themselves and determine if they could have done anything different to deliver the subject matter to their students.
James Jackson
