Hi Angela - Thanks for your post to the forum. The application assessments that you describe are essential in a skills based program. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In the program I teach in we also have to assess the students in a hands-on environment which consist of a clinical environment (Nursing Home, Hospital, etc). The students have certain skills that have to be mastered at the end of each 10 week session and have a chance to demonstrate these skills to their instructor. Check off sheets are used to ensure each student is evaluated fairly and accurately. The hands-on portion allows the students an opportunity to bridge the theory behind the practice/application. Typically this is when we see the most "light bulbs" go on and concepts are mastered.
Hi Danielle- Thanks for you post to the forum. I'm glad that you found something useful to add to your teaching! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I think this is a great technique and will use it im my classes
I have students create their own test questions. They end up giving themselves harder questions than I would have given them.
I play games in the class to assess students' knowledge on subject matter.
I teach Surgical Technology so what I do for alternative testing is visual test and also skills assessments. And it allows me to actually see what the student is learning on a individual bases.
We do a lot of practical and lab exams in the networking field. I also do a lot of break/fix, web page development, critical thinking and problem solving labs to assess where my students are.
Hi Dovie- Great ideas for writing classes and alternative assessments! Best wishes - Susan
Since I teach a writing course, I try to involve some creative writing time for the students. Also, I make sure that I assign journal topics for the students to write about. One of my favorite things to do is to start my class with a "news story" or "newspaper article" that is relevant to the course topic. If we discuss organization, I include this with the discussion. As for testing time, I will place an extra credit essay question that deals with one of our in class discussions. It is quite surprising how the students are able to write and tell their answers because they remember the relevant discussion that took place in the classroom. Also, it assesses their listening skills.
Ok so we agree that all students learn differently, then I hope we all agree that all students show what they've learned differently.
In my opinion all students are not created equally when it comes to taking tests.
On my tests, I always have different types of questions from T/F to multiple choice to fill in the blanks , matching I really try to mix it up. Even a short essay once in a while.
It gives students many Opportunities to show their knowledge.
It's funny how in written form they might not get it but ask them the same question and "WOW" they get it.
I love projects and presentations.
I hope all of you will become more aware of this and give your students a "fair" assessment.
I assess my students in many different ways. I like to assess them during class time when I am lecturing and asking questions about terms and concepts that they should be familar with or should have read in the text. I also use project/hands on work to assess my students because you have those students that just are not test takers, but if you put a project in front of them they can really shine. Now I look for two things when assessing projects. First, I look at the application. Were they able to follow the instructions provided as well as applying the material learned. Second, I assess their writing skills. Are they able to write professionally which of course includes correct grammar and punctuation. Lastly, I assess my students through their group work. Are they able to get along with others regardless of who those others may be because being diverse and a team player are crucial in the work force.
HI Tracey- Thanks for your post to the forum. Having your students "teach-back" is an excellent strategy that really improves retention! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In teaching clinical lab procedures. I always try to explain the lab test. Why the dr might order that test, what it measures and demonstrate it in front of the class. I then have them each do the skill. The following day I set up stations with a team leader and have them redemonstrate the skill to their team and they all repeat "teaching each other" It seems to cement the skill deeper into their heads by having to teach it to someone else.
I think in any field.. critical thinking and common sense and essencials for a good learning experience
Sometimes my students will not "see the problem" because they are not using critcal thinking to fix what they are looking at.
I do think that subjective tests are important in most of the topics that I teach. However, in between the subjective tests I incorporate some methods that engage the students and test their knowledge while allowing them to have some fun. I sometimes create crossword puzzles with the subject matter or have competitions such as Jeopardy and word search. I also usually have one project per module. Sometimes they are individual projects and sometime they are group projects.
sometimes written replies are best for my area of teaching......english. I need to get interpretive responses to many of my questions....either they are written or expressed through oral communication.
Hi James - Yes, it is so important to utilize application based assessments that mirror what our students will encounter in the field! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Practical exercises that encorporate the skills and information learned during the class will give an accurate assessment of how the student will do in real world situations.
