test making
does anyone else find it difficult to make assessments for your classes? i find that i dont make enought assessments for certain courses. i beleive theyre inportant becuase not only does it show the progress of learning in your students but it helps them retain information.
Hi Jacqueline, Thanks for your post to the forum. You have a very comprehensive approach to assessment! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi John, I find that grading rubrics are worthwhile for essay questions.
Susan Polick
I usually format the test according to the lessons given. The exam usually consists of multiple choice, True/False ,Short answer. I also give a study guide a week prior to the exam
Test making can sometimes be difficult as it is important to ensure that material covered in class is on the exam. It is not fair to the students if they study for hours and the material studied is not on the exams. Instructors also have to make sure to grade the exams fairly and accurately especially when the exams are essays.
I like to make standard multiple choice and matching tests, but I always put things in there that also test their testing skills! For instance, there may be some hints to answers hidden in other questions that come later. I always tell them to "take the test twice" and if they are good test takers they will sometimes catch on and fix some questions they had answered incorrectly. When I review the test in class I always point out these things, so that they're more aware the next time. But multiple choice tests are easier to make and to grade, and therefore you can get away with doing more of them per class.
I use assessments throughout the course as well. Most of the time I use these as a question and answer period throughout the day but I also use short written quizzes of 5 or so questions. There are times that I have students write questions for themselves to be asked of other students in class, usually the student next to them but changing direction of rotation and also going diagonal; they don’t know who is going to ask a question until the questioning starts. This seems to keep them on their toes.
I don't find it necessarily difficult, but it is time consuming. I usually incorporate questions from both classroom discussions and required reading materials. The part that is probably the most difficult for me is creating case scenarios for quizzes. I usually try to relate the case scenarios to my students' program of study.
I agree with Barry. I also try to build essessments that are close to the subject matter of the class. I also use study guides, crossword puzzles, and games to help with the materials of the course.
I don't find it difficult. I like to make weekly assessments. That way I can accurately gauge if a student is retaining what is being taught that week, and if they are not, then we can correct the problem now, instead of waiting a few weeks for the student to fall even further behind. Sometimes I just administer a 10 or 15 question quiz to make sure the students are paying attention during the week.
Hi Barry, I agree - those "practice" assessments are very valuable preparation for certification exams. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I try to build essessments are close to certification exams to try and get them prepared for types and words use in them. They seem to do better on assessments that dont count due to less pressure.
Thanks for your feedback!! I will try this in my class.
I find assessments throughout the course to be VERY effective. It not only reinforces what we have discussed in class but allows them to recall from their own memory, solidifying the information just a step further. Plus it allows them to know where they are and how well they are doing.
I must admit, I have used the q/a available from the students text books, however I find them skewed in their information. The questions either delve to in depth or they end up merely grazing the surface. There is never really a happy medium. I have implemented using the information from text, things we do in our activities, and my own influx to be more useful and accurate for the students AND their knowledge. Plus, despite the information coming from their textbooks, it's not always accurate, sorry to say.
I give pretests as a way to help students apply their knowledge and to get a feel of what the real test will be like. I may write questions myself or have my students answer questions at the back of each chapter in the text.
The course i teach is time consuming as well, however i try to engage the students on what is the best way to give a test and fromat the test according so they will be successful when taking the test. All student do not test the same, some perfer tru and false, some multiple choice and others short essay.
Hi Rick, Thanks for your post to the forum. When students will be required to pass a certification exam, creating assessments that will mirror those exams is the best strategy. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
This is the most time consuming of courses and I try to make the questions similiar to how they will be tested on their boards (scenario based)
I think assessment building is probably the longest time-sink in developing any class. For me, I tend to defer to standardized tests and skills application wherever I can because these are the fastest to grade and get results back to the student. Plus, in Information Technology, this is most relevant for students pursuing certification. In other words, I use the assessment methods that my students will be most exposed to in the field.
-R
