Hi William, Yu have a very well rounded assessment strategy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Jaclyn, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that it is important to use assessments that mirror the national exam, but also that using other options is important as well. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I like to mix it up by using some T/F, multiple choice, and fill in questions. I also have a simple sentence answer for an extra-credit.
I think about what is the best way to "test" the student on what was taught and retained during the course. Also, time constraints are important, espcially at the end of a quarter when grades are due by a certain time.
My class uses 3 testing techniques for each final . Multiple choice ,written and a hands on . We do this to make sure the student completly understands the content presented and can demonstrate the skills learned .
While more content can be assessed with a multiple choice test, I try to diversify my assessments throughout the term for multiple reasons. First, not every student illustrates what they've learned in the same way. It's accepted that not everyone learns the same way, so why should we assume that they would all show what they know in the same way? I try to give each student the chance to show what they know in their strongest area. With that in mind, I assign a paper (for the stronger writer), as well as at least one test which has short responses. Those who are strong with the written word will find this favorable. ...At the end of the day, a life skill in the work place will require that you need to collect, organize and then report on factual information. This is true if you are a cop, lawyer, in sales, accounting, anything.
I like to do a variety starting with true / false., then multiply choice, followed by completion, finally I will ask for a essay or two. This helps round out the students so that they can get a variety of each. Some students do better then others with a variety, I think it really works best to my trade students.
The criteria I have used for selecting testing formats are considered using the overall dynamics of the students. For example, some students do well on multiple choice, others may not perform as well, by adding a mixture, all students are given an opportunity to do well.
For our program students are required to pass a national exam that is all multiple choice so the format of most of the assessments are just that in order to better prepare them for that exam. I do prefer to offer them a combination of true/false, multiple choice, matching, and fill-in/completion in order to allow for those students who excel in one are or the other to have a good chance.
I prefer short essay responses from my students. While it takes longer to grade, I like to see their thought process.
In the past, I have avoided multiple choices tests as feeling inappropriate for my subject - English/composition. I have tended to stick with formal essay assignments and portfolios, also group or individual presentation. The difficulty with all of these methods in my subject area is their inherent subjectivity - although I'm not convinced that difficulty is the right word, in that we are dealing with complexity and the teacher's professionalism lies, in part, in assessing complexity with as much objectivity as possible. However, and without abandoning other methods, I am being won over to the flexibility of multiple choice and other quiz-type formats as being able to include complexity - if the questions are thoughtful and well-constructed - and also to appear less opaque to the students.
I want to make sure that students have the skills they need to succeed in the marketplace, so I always include a practical portion of the test, in addition to a completion section. This seems the best approach.
I like to use multiple choice and T/F questions. On occasion I like to add a question that wasn't in a printed lecture, but in a talking point during the lecture.
I use a varying number of testing techniques. Not all students test best using true/false or completion, so its good to add in multiple choice.
I use prior data from formative assessments to determine what to use
I also use multiple choice test. I have notice that students who have issues with writing or spelling would just skip over fill-in-the-blank the questions.
A lot of tests we do at the school are made online, so primarily multiple choice and true/false
I like to base questions on a test to those that will help the student understand a process. Because I Am instructing students to prepare them for a career I like to evaluate that they have not only learned the task but the materials and equipment needed. Use of multiple choice is good adding in a few true and false and even fewer matching in short blocks. Students get confused with matching so I don't always feel that this assesses their knowledge well. I don't like essay questions because they can be subjective and I find it difficult to grade when a student has a portion correct but other areas are incomplete or incorrect.
Hi Michael, Thanks for your post to the forum. That is a good strategy to encourage use of textbooks. I use it in my online classes as well. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Jennifer, Using assessments that mirror the licensure exam is a very good strategy.
Susan Polick
