Bryan:
I have streamlined grading essays by prviding a template or rubric for the students to peer review each others rough drafts.
This has saved me lots of time. I grade the student reviewer on their analysis. Then I grade the paper of the student being reviewed.I think the same can be done with essays. The time investment would be finding a rubric or developing one of your own.
I teach the restaurant rotation class and we use only multiple choice questions that are graded with scantron.I feel that this section is more to the benefit of teachers that have Gen ed classes in which they would utilize essay tests.
I am so very glad that (quite a while ago) I started using ExamView software (before that, I used CTM, Course Test Manager) to create and, for nearly all of my classes, deliver exams electronically. The software allows me to choose from the bank of questions provided with the textbook, modify those questions, or to add my own questions to a particular test or bank. I even export tests used in previous terms as question banks so I can choose questions to use from there (again). Once the test questions are prepared, I can choose to print the test and deliver it on paper, but I usually only do this for my math classes. With a little more work, I can prepare a test that is to be delivered ‘online’, placing the exam file onto our school’s server, and students use the test-taking component of the software package to view the questions I’ve chosen, enter their answers, and, upon completion, automatically see their score. That’s got to be the best part – automatic scoring!
After everyone has finished the test, I retrieve their results (using another component of the package) and generate reports that show percentage of correct responses for each question on the exam. We review those with low percentages to see if there’s a problem with the question, course material, or, occasionally, that I may have entered the wrong answer into the software!
It took some time to set up and get used to working with all of the components in the ExamView package, but that has proven to be a terrific investment! (My students prefer it, too!)
There is a vocabularly assignment in my class that requires short answer responses. The vocabulary words are single spaced on the document, allowing for them to write in the answers on the line that follows. When students write in the definition sometimes it takes more than one line. The students then have to write smaller to make it fit.
This makes it difficult to read the answers, I find myself having to read it more than once and there is no room to write corrections. I realize now that I should reformat this assignment to save myself time in grading. One method that could save time would be to create matching questions, matching the vocabulary term with the correct definition.
Go ahead and give Quickstar a try Michelle. It definitely works for other instructors.
Based on what I have learned in this module, I would utilze the electronic gradebook and or Quickstar to improve the speed at which students receive feed back about their performance in class. Threfore enabeling me to have more time to spend answering questiona and helping at risk students.
Sounds like you have a great system Abunido. Multiple choice and fill in the blanks are both quick to grade - especially when students write their answers out to the side of each question.
by using a template i can grade faster
I format my quiz and exams, in multiple choice and fill in the blanks. It's just make a lot of easier to the asses them later, usually scantron to correct them quickly. So it odes not eat much of my class time, and my office times.
It's nice to be able to provide students with quick feedback. At the same time, sometimes out schedules don't permit this kind of turn around and we need to set expectations instead.
Grade them as they come in,or set a proper time for grading on that day. Tests are graded right after the test has been given and then we go over the test at that time. As far as the labs i will be more forgiving and allow them the time they need to fill them in. Once a deadline has been set then that is when it is due no exceptions it is late and points will be deducted. That is what streamlines my grading the most is setting a deadline.
I like your system Anthony. It sounds like it's simple, fair and easy to grade.
Obviously adding more of the multiple choice and true and fals questions would be the way to go. But we are in a day and time in which students have lost the ability to write the english language. It is imperative to continue giving essays and short answers. But what I have done is to give those type of \questions on Final exams only.
With our testing processes with use a scan-tron system. It saves hours of test grading by hand. I know most say its mutable guess but I try to make it a little bit harder. With daily homework we score out zero out of 3. 0-3, three is perfect and so forth so that the student understands exactly why they receive the grade they had gotten. It is black and white and you cannot show favoritism this why or give students a little lee way.
I think I am going to implement a couple of the ideas shown here on my next class. I really like the stream lining of the exams which can be lengthy to grade.
Teaching the same course several years in a row can be a big time saver John. As an instructor, I always look for opportunities to teach courses I've taught in the past or to teach ones with similar content as before.
I teach English! I have to grade essays; however, I will certainly ask students to underline/ highligh particular portions of their writing to cut down on grading-- which takes up much of my time!
I am pretty organized when it comes to grading. I usually enter my grades in at the end of the day everyday. I also have been teaching the same course for 4 years so I know exactly what to look for.
I will definitely use the underlining of subject on the essay.
Sounds you already have a great system in place Judy. Also nice to hear that you intend to continue to build upon it - making your life better and better.
