Hi Joe - From your description, you have the grading rubrics for your assessments well planned! Susan
I think it depends on which class I am teaching. If I am teaching a lower level intro to psychology class, for instance, I use multiple choice exams. They are objective and allow students to study specific material with the goal of recognition or recall. In higher level courses where students are required to not only remember material but show the ability to apply it to topics outside of class I use essay type tests as well as research papers. I find that this requires students to directly apply theory to topics of their own choosing.
By conducting quizzies, test and discussion during class. Asking them questions during class to make sure they understanding the material, by doing this, they understand that the class is designed to ask questions if you don't understand and not feel embarrased.
Because of the culinary type setting, I believe the best way is to have them complete practical applications of specific recipes and techniques. We currently have specific grading criteria for this including: point break down sheets, time frame for completing the practical, post-practical discussion with the Chef instructor.
Hi Lisa - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are doing a great job of varying your assessments to accomodate your students' learning styles!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
We, too, have been limited to multiple choice tests for final exams but during the term, I use a variety of test types as quizzes. The reason I use a different format for each quiz is that students tend to favor different testing styles just as they have different learning styles. By mixing it up, I am fairly assured that each student will have at least one testing experience that matches his or her style. I also make sure that the students are very familiar with the way the questions will be presented in the final exam in the multiple choice format. Also, having a number of quizzes throughout the class seems to reduce 'test anxiety' in the students who hate testing.
I'm a writing teacher, so I feel that essay questions are the best way to assess my students' learning.
When I am teaching a class I prefer short answer becaue it gives me a better picture of the students understanding.
Hi Wendy - Thanks for sharing a great "ice-breaker"! Susan
I assess their learning through multiple choice and t/f quizzes. On occassion, I will also incorporate short answer questions, specifically to subjects that lend themselves to answers/comcepts that involve more critical thinking.
I like to start off the first evening of the class with a "get to know your classmates" activity.
I have each person answer a couple multiple choice questions, a couple fill in the blanks and a couple short answer questions. We share the answers in class as a way to break the ice.
I let everyone know at the beginning that this is not a test, there are no grades, but participation points will be given.
So far, everyone enjoys this and when I have had students take another class with me, they have asked if we would be doing the ice breaker!
Hi Joseph - Thanks for your post to the forum. I love watching the Food Network channel where they have shows like "Chopped" with young Chefs competing in timed cooking contests! It really does mirror what happens in real restaurant kitchens where stress can be extreme! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In our school, practical exams are what we use as well as written tests. The practicals are a weekly examed, timed, graded on the spot based upon the weeks production. This is the only real way to assess a young chefs skills is to have them cook.
Hi Daniel- The combination of multiple choice testing with pracical assessements is ideal!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I found that the multiple choice is the most effective ways to assess the learning of the students, since it provides an overall knowledge of the student. We also use the practical testing, which allows the student to perform the skills/techniques learned.
Hi Gabriel - thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, essay questions can easily become subjective-this is why it is essential to create rubrics for these questions. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Although it's more difficult to write higher-order questions, multiple choice questions are more likely to test knowledge reliably with validity. Although well written essay test questions can gauge firm understanding, too often they wind up testing writing and penmanship abiltiy rather than content knowledge.
Hi Barbara- Thanks for your post to the forum. Your assessment strategy is quite comprehensive- great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
One test format is never sufficient to determine the skill levels of your students. However, there should be a 'method' to your madness when selecting a format to use to assess skill levels and/or cognative abilities. A simple test (either matching or multiple choice) would be my first testing format. You want to determine what the student knows about a subject, rather than the 'depth' of that knowledge. These tests identify the basic familiarity with concepts, terms and procedures, rather than in-depth knowledge.
More complex testing, using completion, short answers, long answers and essays should be incorporated into the testing schdule farther ito the course to test what the students have learned and how they are able to express and develop complex statements about concepts presented in the course.
I use tests/quizzes with different types of questions (mult ch, numeric response, matching) within the test/quiz. Also, the students must give a presentation on how the subjects covered will relate to their chosen profession.
