I prefer to use multiple choice and short answer. I feel the short answer really gives me a sense of weather or not my students understand the content.
Hi James, That is an excellent way to have student apply their learning. In addtion, it definitely increases retention.
Susan Polick
Constructing scenarios or having them respond to brief cases where they have to recognize the content of what they learned and come up with proposed solutions to the problems presented.
As a lab instructor I use skill assessment on a variety of skill sets they are learning during their mod. There is a skill set check-off sheet they must pass with a 75% in order to move on to another set of skills.
I use the type of testing best suited to teh level of learning required. For hands on training, skill testing is used. For higher levels of Blooms,(Apply, Synthesize, evaluate) I use essay or projects where critical thinking skills are required. Multiple choice, true false, matching and completion are limited to knowledge and comprehension. I try to relate the testing method to teh best way to evaluate the level of learning that I expect.
I like multiple choice tests. Since it covers a wide range of information, multiple choice tests can paint a overall view of the students comprehension.
I use quizzes and clinical exercises to evaluate my students progress.
using a varied approach, keeping one method as a standard but adding small other methods, one can be a matching column with an essay on a multipule choice standard, along with a practical task producing exam. So no matter what kind of learning stlye the student are, they have an area they feel confortable with.
Multiple choice, essays, short response, and discussion.
Hi Autumn, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a great example of effective application assessment! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I like to ask questions as frequently as possible during class and lecture and then have them complete a skills scan test after each organ that we learn. (I teach sonography)
I like to do daily quizzes with different testing formats to see how the class as a whole tests with different types of questions. Once I have a good idea of how the class does with each type of assessment questions, I will use a majority of those types of questions on their actual tests.
For me it is the useage of all the test taking formats. They all provide valuable information about the students and his or her learning assessment.
We also use written and hands on testing
Hi Chanda, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using very appropriate assessments! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I beleive it truly depends on the class. In Gen ed classes I believe you have to test for a through understanding of the concepts and being able to apply them. So I use essay questions to assess how well the student has articulated the curriculum. In my clinical classes I use skills assessment type questions.
The most effective methods are multiple choice question test on objective content coupled with a skills test on trouble shooting or installation of system componets seen in the field.
I've found that multiple-choice testing works better for the courses I teach and I include up to five choices in order to make students stop and use critical thinking in order to get the right answer. This way, the student doesn't rely on the first two choices.
In the medical field I think demonstrating the skills learned is best.
It depends on the course that I am teaching, and that course's learning objectives. I'm struggling with the English class I am currently teaching because I do not believe that a multiple choice test can accurately assess my students' progress, but I am required by my institution to give two tests, which I am not allowed to write, and which equal 1/3 of the student's total grade. The module makes the point that instructors should carefully design their tests to cover material. I don't lecture much in an English class (except when we talk about grammar, and even then, it's much more about hands-on application). I would prefer to give a completion (for things like pronoun forms and other grammar)/essay tests in my class.
