The use of three different formats on one written test helps students feel more comfortable.
Later in the class, have question and answer group competitions.
Have a group discussion on practical student presentations, early on in the class. Then assessing skills with the aid of a rubric.
I plan my testing recording to the material, if I have lab testing I also include hands on so if the written test is not so grade they still have the chance to make it up with the practical testing.
I agree Lucille because you get much more information with essay questions the student is able to explain even when it is not perfect but you still can understand that the student understands the material instead multiple choice either correct or wrong!
I prefer to use essay and short answer tests. While multiple choice test are much easier to grade, I get a better grasp of the students' comprehension by reading their written answers.
Hi Pierre- Welcome to ED 103! I congratulate you on recognizing that our job is not to cram as much material as possible into the heads of our students, but to give them the skills to think critically and to be able to actually use what they have learned in their lives and careers.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
My students' evaluation combine formative testing through quizes and projects with summative assessment through two skill application finals. Coaching students to success means in my opinion giving them a lifetime training they could use anywhere, at anytime in their life. Cognitive objectives, commun sense and business focused are targeted everyday in class in order to improve students' skills,to nurture their knowledge and to support their transformation.
Hi Gerald - Welcome to ED 103! The course that you teach is indeed challenging in terms of assessment. At first glance it's simple- "Grade their speeches" - but I also teach public speaking and can attest that it's way more than that! You seem to have a good handle on assessment. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I usually use Multiple choice and essay questions combined with hands on in the lab, my students doing well with this combination. The best is hands on in the clinical part if the written tests are not so great.
My criteria for test format selection is generally based upon the type of material we have been covering. Because my course is Public Speaking, I have certain criteria that must be followed by the student in giving various types of speeches. My objective tests are generally multiple choice and true false. I do attempt to create tests that cover all of the various learning styles that are representative of my students' best testing style and approach the "oral testing" (speeches) with a great deal of flexibility because of the nature of the students that I serve.
Hi Terry - reviewing tests and adjusting them where necessary is a very good practice. Susan
My class is about 90% hand-on, but I do have a body of knowledge to cover in the lecture portion of the course. I really end up using pretty much all the forms of testing presented (except essay). I have a written final primarily multiple choice for the lecture material, and a skills based practical test to assess the hands-on portion of the course. I constantly evaluate the percentage of correct answers and adjust the questions if I find them to be unfairly worded or asked.
Hi Vinita - your assessment appears to be appropriate and complete! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I determine how the students will best use the skills outside of the classroom to determine the best testing method. If there are skills that they will need to keep, then essay is more effective because they tell me how this new skill can be used.
I teach Environmental Science and Physical Anthropology. In testing(written exam), I use multiple choice questions with 4 choices. It meets my instructional method, which is using power point presentation with lecture.
I also include images from the books, graphs, they have to interpret the data, these are answered as short essay type. This increases the understanding of the subject
10-15% are true or false questions.
Matching tests are also involved in my testing Format(especially in Physical Anthropology). I try to cover each students capabilities. These questions are based on what I taught in the class.
The courses I teach in the brick and mortar environment are skills based. They either are able to accomplish the final product or they are not. However, the assessment does allow to see at which stage the error was made and how corrective action can be taken to create a positive learning outcome. Kathleen
Hi Randy - Some faculty feel that open book tests have no place in assessment. However, your post is a good example of the effective use of this assessment type. Thanks for your post to the forum! Best Wishes- Susan
I use a daily chapter exam that is from the test data bank provided with the book. It is an open book exam where the students must read and hunt for the answers. The questions are not obvious and concept development is clearly recognized. I believe that by reading and looking up the answer, then the student learns more. Besides it virtually eliminates memorization.
I think lab time is important so the students can put into pratice what they are learning
In our technical school, we use product identification methodologies to increase recall.
We also give room for multiple-choice, short essays, matching, true and falses this way both their learning and testing style.In additition the academic part, we round thier skill by exposing them to a practical test to round off their knowledge
I like to use different formats depending upon the subject matter or sometimes several formats within one class. I generally use multiple choice, true and false and essay questions. However in a kitchen format, the students are also given a hands-on practical exam so they can show the techniques that they have learned within the class. Some students have better results with different test styles. However, I also think that test results are influenced by instructor teaching styles, as well as the students desire to learn, study habits or lackthereof, and even what they eat and how much they sleep.
