Open-book Tests
I am surprised that this module does not mention open-book tests. Some of the topics that I teach within a course are very challenging. On occasion, I will give an open-book test on that particular chapter. Granted, these tests are not the easiest. The students are still expected and encouraged to read/study the material.
I find that students learn quite well from these type of exams as they are literally reading through the text to find the correct answers. Many times students do not study and come time for the test, they may just take lucky guesses or not. When a student does well on an open-book test, I know that they are motivated to do very well. They are actually learning. Remember that tests are not a measure of intelligence. They are just a measure of how well one does in taking the test. Students can be an A student and because of anxiety, they freeze up. On the other hand, you may get a student who does not show up to class, is late with assignments, but when they may have a stroke of good luck in guessing the right answers.
I believe open-book tests are another way to assess students' learning.
open book can be good, but if it is a closed book test they usually study a little harder
I would love to be able to do our tests like this. Unfortunately at our school all of our tests are mandated to be open book. While some of the students do make a good effort to actually study and learn the material, many students use it as an excuse to not study at all. With an open book test, they often will read the question, look up the answer, write it down, and then forget what they just wrote when they move on to the next question. Being able to give them a time limit on their book usage would be great!
Hi Leigh, Thanks for sharing an excellent observation on open book tests! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I use occasional open book test, when the material is too complex to memorize. I hand out the test & give the students say 30 minutes to work on the test. Then, I allow the 3-10 minutes with their text to fill in the missing material. The students who studied know exactly where to find the answer and benefit greatly from a few minutes with their text. The students who did not study are still dead in the water...time with the text does not help them because they don't know where to look for the answers. Next chapter, I usually see more students high-lighting the answers in their text. :)
Hi Ronda, I agree that OpenBook tests can serve very well to get reading completeed. Best wishes - Susan
Susan Polick
I find that an open book test is appropriate in my classes when a large amount of material is to be read. I send the students home with the reading assignment and an open book test which is designed to cover all the material. If they can answer all the questions then it ensures that the reading has been completed.
Hi Karen, Thanks for your post to the forum. For critics of open book tests , I say the same thing - "if the student has not read the material, they have no clue where to seek out the answer" Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Another problem with open book tests, if the student has not read the material, they have clue where of seek out the answer. For those who read the book, these are the students that will pass the test.
Hi Lynn - great strategy on open book tests! In the post test review I always emphasize the need to READ the text material in order to do better the next time! Susan
I think open-book tests can be useful, especially if you find that there are those students who do not necessarily read the material or spend enough time studying. They may think they will ace an open-book test, however, I tend to make the questions more detailed and precise. If the student has read the material, he/she will be familiar with the chapter and will know where to find the answer if he/she cannot come up with it all on his/her own.
Although open book tests can be challenging, it does encourage the students to read the material. Open book tests requires students to research the material and the question being asked. Open book tests allows the students to learn as well be tested.
I have been a student in classes in the past where the instructor has given open note tests. She wouldn't allow us to use our textbook, but did allow us to use any notes that we had taken when she was reviewing the material with us. I still found the tests to be challenging but I have to admit my note-taking in her class was VERY thorough because we never knew when she would allow us to use our notes for reference.
you are right about the time limit on these tests, I find that they are extremely time consuming and a lot of times I do not have that kind of time in my curriculum.
HI Kimberly - Thanks for your post to the forum. You bring up a good point - although open book tests do require that students know where in the book to find the info, it does not guarantee retention. I prefer to use open book tests for material that in the workplace, ideally would not be memorized but instead be found in reference material. Students would need to find that info quickly, so would have to be familiar with the reference texts. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I agree that open book tests have many benefits. The biggest problem I have found is that the students do not retain the information on an open book test as well as they do for more traditional tests.
I always use open-book tests...my students love it and I love that they use the textbook. I see nothing wrong with doing that.
In applied course, I think that an open book test is appropriate. I guess that this can also potentially be considered a take home test by some. If in class, a person has access to resources such as guides, texts and other reference materials just like they would have in an actual situation. I think that this type of test accurately simulates real situations.
Hi Morgan - Thanks for your post to the forum. I like to use open book tests especially for material that really cannot be memorized. Still, as you mention the tests should have substantial content and students should be aware that they will need to prepare. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
all the test we have are open book. we too are trying to get our students to learn, understand and know how to research information instead of just guessing or trying ot memorize everything. we all know memorizing everything just isnt going to happen.
