Fear Factor with Tests
Discuss the fear factor associated with quizzes/tests and the inappropriateness of using the threat of a quiz as a discipline control technique.
The fear factor associated with quizzes/tests and the inappropriateness using the threat of a quiz as a discipline control technique should not be the practice of any instructor. Many students who are given quizzes/tests have a phobia of them and may not test well. That is why it is is important to identify your students and it should never be used as a discipline control technique. This could cause students to drop out of school.
Kalpana, you also give your students a better sense of ownership of their own education when they have choices that can impact their own grade. I really like when instructors give students options and choices to make when it comes to dropping a score or two from their overall grade. Thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
Dorothy, very well stated. The results of any type of assessment should be used by the instructor to figure out next steps along the overall lesson plan. Can the students move forward with the next set of materials or does the class need some clarification before they can take on the next set of objectives. Do the same students seem to have problems or do different students have issues with each assessment? All of these can be great indicators of what the instructor needs to be doing to ensure the students are moving forward.
James Jackson
Jason, sounds interesting. What are some of the criteria you use to make final decisions of what makes it to the actual exam? Do you focus on what they may see in the real world or what type of things they may see in other classes? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
And if we drop the lowest test score ,they feel good that they can do better next time and study more to do better than the one they feel they did not do well. I usually give them the opportunity to select 4 out of 5 tests or quizzes for grade.
Quizzes should provide a way to assess students learning. In addition, if they are succeeding on passing the quiz it can serve as a motivator. If they are doing well on quizzes, it can serve as a motivator.
Quizzes can also be used as an opportunity to enhance teaching efforts and clarify difficult topics. It also allows the instructor to evaluate if the class requires reinforcement in certain areas.
I always get my students input on some things that may or may not be on a test. i let them feel like it is a little more tailor made for them. it helps, i dont make them easy but they seem tyo do really well with it.
Anthony, well stated. I too have a hard time understanding the mentality around using assessments as a means of behavior modification. I would be interested in any studies anyone can provide as to the benefits of their use. Thanks for sharing your comments.
James Jackson
Michael, great technique when used properly. Especially using assessments as a form of knowledge transfer and skill building. Students should know up front that some assessments are building tools while others are forms of measurement. They should also know that assessments are measuring you as an instructor as well as their understanding of the subject matter. Knowing you are measuring your skills as an instructor takes away some of the anxiety as they better understand you are vested in the results as much as they.
James Jackson
Hudson, YES! Presentation is everything and one area that some instructors just do not manage very well. Through careful and strategic conversations on day 1 of any grouping of students for a term and periodically throughout that term, speak to students and build excitement around the benefits of measuring what they have learned and their understanding of how to use their new found knowledge. One other technique that works is the ability to drop a low test result or even two so they know early that one made result will not punish them for an entire class.
James Jackson
ArRecozell, first you need to help redefine their definition of failure. If failing a quiz helps them to pass the final course exam then they pass the class but needed to know their weak spots in order to focus their study. What actions do you take to help them prepare to be successful? Some students just do not have good study habits so you could create some lessons that provide the information they need but also prepares them to be tested on the materials. Before you think to yourself if is not your role to train them to take notes and be successful, think first of how you might use this information as a means to create different types of learning opportunities within your classroom. Thanks for any type of feedback you care to provide, positive or negative.
James Jackson
Eileen, what types of responses do you get when you talk to students about your concerns? Have you consulted with other instructors that teach similar subjects about what they do to gain student trust and attention? Before you focus on what is wrong with your students just make sure you are looking into your lesson plan first and ask a very simple question - Is my class engaging and interesting to my students? You may gain more interest in your class if you talk to students about their expectations and what makes them engaged in some classes and not in others.
James Jackson
Terry, what types of feedback do you receive from students with regard to how many assessments you provide? Do students know about this methodology during your day 1 introduction or orientation of the class? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
John, what types of lessons do you create around testing time that helps students prepare for exams? Can students drop one test grade during a term? What types of reviews do you run so students can learn from their mistakes? All of these have shown in other environments to be effective tools in reducing test anxiety. Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Michael, using any form of assessment as a means to modify behavior is more a show of a lack of skills on by the instructor than anything positive that will come out of the student learning side. There are simply too many quality instructors that are able to get good results from their students without the use of this form of behavior modification. For those that feel using tests is an effective use of assessment tools I highly recommend you take some time to review the literature on this subject.
James Jackson
Rekha, great use of "real-world" by incorporating the use of resource materials in your form of assessment. Not all situations call for these types of tools to measure student learning progress but for those that do allow such resources they are awesome at helping students know how to use resource materials efficiently and can be a better method of identifying their strengths and weakness areas of any subject area.
James Jackson
Greg, we may be confusing two different focal points here. Students will have some level of anxiety going into a test due to the fear of the unknown. This is common and to be expected. Students should never however feel that an assessment is being used as a form of behavior modification. The result of any assessment should be to measure progress and provide direction for both student and instructor. Remember that assessment tools measure our success or failure as an instructor just as much as they measure student progress. I hope this helps.
James Jackson
James, great topic. While assessments do have a place within the learning process they should never be used as an attempt to mold behavior. Assessments can be used to also evaluate the effectiveness of an instructor just as much as they can be used to evaluate a student's knowledge of the lesson plan. ALL instructors should be using their various assessment tools to measure there own effectiveness as an instructor!
James Jackson
Threatening quizzes and tests does nothing to motivate the student to learn and enjoy what they are learning. Their main motivation becomes self preservation rather than having the freedom to take in the material and understand it without the fear of failure.
Students, I believe, would also respond negatively to such threats and it would damage the relationship and perception that you have with your class.
