I like to use multiple choice and true/false. However, I leave it open to the students to choose between the standard exam, or if they prefer short answer or essay. As a student, I was always better at essay, so I want the students to feel comfortable and confident prior to taking the exam, no matter what style they prefer.
Hi Vanessa, I really like your idea of a "summary essay" of what the students have learned from the previous course. It certainly gives you the "pulse" of the class. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I agree with you Susan. I tend to use a variety of test question types and always include an essay of some sort. Coming from the medical field, there are processes that occur in every course the students take. On my very first exam of the term, I ask an essay of the previous course the student has taken. It really opens an instructor's eyes when the student is able to discuss steps to a process. It also lets the instructor know where the student is in their learning styles.
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for your post to the forum. Your program director knows that this asks students to utilize critical thinking skills that are beyond the mere choice between True or False. Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
The program director at my school taught me to ask students to complete a T/F question by writing a response that made the question True. This seems like a way to further evaluate the student's actual knowledge of facts. I find this to be a useful strategy for more sophisticated evaluation of student learning.
Hi Christopher, Good rationale for your assessments choices! Susan
Susan Polick
The best way to determine if the test was effective is if the responses and scoring reflexs an understanding of key material topics including use of termonology.
The effectiveness of the test format I use is determined by the results I get. I have used different formats, including multiple choice, and the active students in my classes always score higher than the passive participants. My preference is a blend of the formats as not only do I want the students to demonstrate a clear understanding of the material taught, but also to be able to effectively communicate their understanding and application of the skills learned by answering both short and essay questions.
Hi Helen, Thanks for your post to the forum. You have it exactly!! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
What I learned from the courses is very important. Tailor your subjects of courses, know your students's academic level, test the knowledge they should know not they do not know, encourage and inspire them to learn more based on the test and mistakes they made... Based on all this, chose the rigth format of test to reach your teaching goals.
i base it on how they have done with the homework
I first of all consider how grades trended for the entire class the degree to which knowledge and skills were demonstrated on the test.
Secondly, I consider the performance of known top performers in the class compared with middle-level performers. If compared responses demonstrate similar trends towards enabling or difficulty that lets me know overall how effective the test type was.
Using a pre-test to develop a baseline I believe would be useful for certain subjects; for example math. I teach computer classes, so the content on a multiple choice test, has to be transferred to a skill level. The skill assessment should provide an indicator that the content (i.e. terms or shortcut keys for example) are actually being learned.
Hi Thao - Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, if the majority of students get a question incorrect, there is either a problem with the question or with how the material/concept was presented in class. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
If the majority of students get the same question wrong, should you assume that the question was worded incorrectly and change it or review the subject content in class?
The effectiveness of the test format used can be gauged by student feedback and test scores.
If honest feedback is given from students then instructors can determine if the tests are assessing true student knowledge and application. The students may not like a certain style (ex. essay), but their candid feedback may tell you that it was effective in measuring their knowledgele.
Test scores may tell you if the test was too easy or too hard. Having another set of eyes look at the test will also validate whether the test is appropriate for the materail covered and the learning objectives.
Hi Terry - Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that this a very interesting question. Do our students that can excel in application assessments really also understand the conceptual underpinnings? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I like to see if the students who seem to understand the info through application also succeed in written tests.
Use different test formats: multiple choice. fill-ins and situtations questions and true and false.
I use all methods (multiple choice, True/False, fill-ins) The final is a combination of all
