Hi Terrie- Application assessment in our education is so often essential. Since you really work with your students as a direct follow-up , you are doing a great job! Best wishes -Susan
Hi Kerry - Thanks for your post. I hear stories like yours too often and like you, they make me even more determined to do everything I can to make my students succeed! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Kevin - from your description, you have a comprehensive assessment routine. I love case studies as they really make students analyze and apply. What classes do you teach? Best wishes - Susan
I like to provide students with a balance - objective tests (multiple choice, true false) and essay questions/projects. Students get the opportunity to "demonstrate" their ability to complete objective tests through a variety of concept checks I do at the end of each week of class. Regarding critical thinking and essay based assignments I use case studies in class to prepare them for the papers they will ultimately write. It's great to have them "road test" their views (and justifications for them) with their peers before they set out to complete a paper.
Rick, I had the same experience. When I went to an automotive school one of my instructors told me I would never make it as a technician because I was too small. I just worked harder and smarter and I became sucessuful. I have been doing this for over 30 years. I never have told a student they will never make it. It IS our job to help every student become sucessful and I work harder for the slower students to make sure they understand whatever I am teaching.
With an online program, testing becomes more limited than it is in a classroom. However, there seem to be creative solutions around this! Students are now being asked to video themselves and post their videos for instructors - this is a great way to get feedback for a specific skill. Another idea is to work closely with publishers to create tests that will enhance your curriculum.
I mainly use multiple choice tests because that is the format that they will use to exit my class. I need them to be familiar with the way that multiple choice questions are worded. I create my test because I want to make sure that there are not questions that I did not cover in class.
Completion test which are limited is what I use based on the speed and the amount information given to the class. With a short amount of time, it's difficult to retain such a vast amount of information.
Generally speaking, testing format criteria should be based on the course content and the stated learning objectives of the course. If the course requires memorization of factual information, then Completion testing should be your method. If the course requires proficiency in skill-based knowledge, then Skill Application testing is the best method. However, I think that using more than one testing method can be effective in allowing students to effectively demonstrate retention of knowledge, conceptual understanding, and practical skill application.
My tests are practical. We have a discussion first, then demo, then each one is required to perform the task. This is the only way I have of knowing they really 'get it'. My classes are not typical lab classes so this method really works and the students enjoy it. For those students who have a more difficult time, I always spend more time with them allowing them to practice the technique until they can demonstrate their competency.
Most of our tests have been prepared for us, however when we do make up our own I try to combine several testing formats in one test. I think this allows me a chance to see just how and what my students are learning. I usually use some true/false, multiple choice and short answer questions. I am teaching culinary students, so there are certain facts or temperatures they must learn or memorize. There are French_ English translations, and generally I include questions on the steps necessary to prepare something. By incorporating these types of questions I think I can get a fairly accurate idea of not only what the students know or are learning, but if I am giving them the information they need to know.
Carol Kravitz
Hi Stacy- Being able to give feedback to your students while you are lecturing indicates that you are a very observant instructor! Best wishes - Susan
While practical tests are the primary assessment in my class I like to use written tests to help the students get a better grasp of terminology and to ensure they are able to apply their recently gained knowledge in a different format.
I use all methods in limited quanity in my tests as durring the semester I use testing using all of the types of questions, and everyday we are in a lab and using performance testing after demonstrations and lecture. i give them grades based on thier end product and asses them with a test at the end of class after the completition of thier skill.
I usually prepare my assessments using much of what I said in class as opposed to what is directly from the book. I watch my students to see if they pick up on my hints. For example, when I say,"This is very important," or "I just gave you a freeby toward the test" I comment on how no one or only a few wrote it down. I plan my assessments strictly over what I covered in class, no surprises. I often use oral exams, but when I create a written exam, I try to use short answers, matching, and possibly an essay question, depending on the lessons.
Thats great Andrew,we build custom roll pans with frenched in license plate that has to have correct measurments,when a student accomplishes this correctly a look of great satiffaction beams on this students face.
The students are supplied all grading rubrics at the beginning of a module and encouraged to use them as study guides. This is a great way for them ahead of time what they will need to do. We also cover them during production in class.,
Hi Al - I especially like your idea of having the students keep a notebook throughout the class. It reinforces what they learn and will serve them later as a resource. Best wishes! - Susan
Hi John - Do you have grading rubrics for the hands-on skill demos? I find that giving students the grading rubric prior to the assessment does two things - 1.Students can better prepare for the assessment. 2. Once they take the assessment/demo what they did well or not well is apparent. Best wishes- Susan
I base the format primarily on the type of students we have and the speed of the class. Because so much information is gathered in such a short amount of time, completion tests are limited because it's hard to retain all the information so quickly.
