Many times instructors will not use the objectives and rather teach students on the items or points that interest them the most. This is not effective teaching and should be addressed.
The complexity of the material and/or the advancement of course material (entry level course vs. advanced course) are determining factors of the type of assessment that should be applied in each case.
Hi Vincent, Thanks for your post to the forum. Application assessment also demonstrates the relevance what students are learning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I instruct in a scool that prepares entry level students for careers in the manufacturing industry. Since we are career oriented I try to prepare test that focus on real world situations. For example, when testing math skills I set up test that would solve problems encountered when working in the shop. Not to do math for math sake but make it apply to everyday applications.
When I am selecting test content, I review the objectives and information we have covered in the time period. I look over the textbook test bank, adjust questions, and create my own. I print the test and take the test.
I agree you need to look at the course objectives. I also think it is critical to prioritize the most important information. I find the standardized tests that come with the instructor desk sets assess very trivial facts. I work full time in the industry, and teach part time. I focus on the key body of knowledge needed to succeed in the field.
My testing content always reflect information from my lectures culled & developed from material in the students' texts, information based upon my personal experience in the field of study,and my knowledge of the areas of inquiry pertaining to the national certification exam.
The content should previously have been covered in class. The content should align with the curriculum and the class syllabus.
Testing content should reflect the objectives of the course.
Hi Graham, Thanks for sharing a good example of comprehensive assessment! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Selecting testing content for me involves all areas of the testing.Students are required to have actual facts on chefs in history,recipe knowledge,equipment/product I.D and alsoa practical on knife skills.So I get to cover most areas of testing.I focus on a varied approach when giving tests as to allow a more level field for the students with different learning skills.
Hi Donna, Thanks for your post to the forum. Kudos for asking your students to use critical thinking skills! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
The tests should demonstrate to the students and the teacher whether or not the students have mastered the important information presented in the course. My course is entirely lecture rather than application, so the tests have to assess the ability of the students to remember what has been discussed. But I try to go beyond memorization of facts and write questions that require real understanding of the subject.
The content of a test should be information that is current with what has been studied.
Hi Lori, Thanks for your post to the forum. I am glad that you found this class helpful! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I think that this module demonstrated the variety
of test that can be used.
I teach in an area that uses a lot of skill testing.
I like to incorporate matching tests and this shows me how to do that better
By first determining what you want to measure, and then determining if the test content will actually do the measuring.
Hi Jamey, Thanks for your post to the forum. That is a very fair and well measured approach! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
selecting the questions should be based upon the content that is most beneficial to the students course of learning and what should be the course content that the instructor feels should be retained.
I always refer back to the learning objectives and competencies for the course - those detailed in the course syllabus. I feel it is unfair to try and catch students or trap them. I may mix in a few more "difficult' questions to challenge/reward those who have studied hard but never enough to keep a student from passing the course.
