I use "preview to what's to come". This allows students to be more relax and look forward to taking a test and assess if they have the corr information to study.
When they know more they do more. I truly believe hard work pays off in the end and students appreciate it.
Hi Tracy, Thanks for your reply! Susan
Susan Polick
No, not necessarily! I have taken oral exam during my primary school years. It was not an alternative for me, "unfortunately"! Some schools may contend that oral exams constitute "special accommodations", nonetheless.
-Tracy
Hi Tracy, Do you need to have evidence of a learning disability to be allowed to administer an alternative oral exam?
Susan Polick
Hello Susan:
I have used oral examinations, which have helped students to overcome certain inconsistencies such as nervousness. This has promoted greater confidence with some students. Having used essay exams to assess knowledge base, has helped some students improve with their writing abilities, as well.
-Tracy
Hi James, Thanks for sharing a good example of an effective questioning strategy.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
One assessment method that I have used is to ask the class in the last few minutes of our session, if they have any leftovers. These leftovers are questions that, for whatever reason, were not asked during the lecture and discussion time. I often get a few very good questions. I then ask the class if anyone would like to answer the presented question.
This gives me a chance to let the students know that I want their questions answered, but it also gives me a chance to observe the other students’ abilities to formulate answers using their newly acquired knowledge.
Hi Kelly, Best wishes as you "fine-tune" your assessments! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Using multiple choice is the "go-to" mode of evaluating the student's leanring for me but I am excited to try some new ways to assess their ability to problem solve within the knowledge they have gained through the class. I teach both the lecture section and lab portion of classes and am challenged to link the information in class to the practical and application setting of the lab. I hope to use a variety of testing - short answer and better multiple choice question formation to gain a more accurate sense of what they have learned.
Hi Cynthia, Your assessment strategy is excellent! Best wishes for a wonderful 2012! Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Michael, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a nice mix of assessments. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Some assessment methods that I have used and been successful are dividing the chapters into two types of assessments. The first assessment is a quiz which introduces definitions, formulas, and basic concepts. The test is the second assessment which reinforces these basic concepts with the addition of application of the theory learned in the chapter.
I am a firm believer that a "one size fits all" assessment approach does not work. Because of this, I have used a combination of different assessment methods when striving to reach measure learners understanding of the course objectives. The most effective assessment techniques that I have employed have been a combination three different assessment methods: multiple choices and true/false quizzes, and when time permits, essay questions. The multiple choice questions helps to measure the learners understanding of the core objectives covered during the lecture. On the other hand, I have used essay questions as a tool to prompt the learner to apply the knowledge acquired by asking them to describe how the concepts apply in a real world scenario. This challenges the learners as well as makes the knowledge acquisition and sharing activity more interesting!
I have each student do a journal. In this journal I have them do a wide variety of things including a multiple choice test for just completion. They are not graded on how many they get right but rather that they put the effort in answering them. This guides me to find the weakness that I will need to focus on to help teach the students and get them ready for the real test.
The module was on the money about multiple choice questions being the go-to type of question. Multiple-choice makes up the majority of my tests and quizzes. I also use quite a bit of practical skills demonstration and instrument identification in my assessment.
I like to use a lot of games and hands on things with my students. I feel that it keeps them focused and it also breaks up the the book work
Problem solving is the preferred method used. I used to have multiple choices from where the students cold select, but found that they worked backwards from the answer. Now they have to work out the equations to get the answer.
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a great strategy to reinforce concept knowledge while assessing application. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I generally use all forms of assessments. By success, do you mean high pass rates or success as far as students not complaining. I typically give most of my assessments as multiple choice because the students have to know why the answer is what it is and why the other options arent especially because we go through the questions together.
I instruct in a non-traditional classroom setting. The best assessment method used is hands-on. Massage is obviously a hands-on profession, so while my students are performing their massage routine I ask questions relevant to where they are in their training; reinforcing the knowledge they have learned from reading the text or through lectures.
