By, Edwardo Mojena
I like to use essay multiple choice fill in the blanks and always an extra points on an essay.
Hi Karen - I am curious - do you ask the students to correctly spell the keywords that are mispelled? Best wishes! Susan
Hi Denise- Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that it is very beneficial to use varied format tests. Different formats assess different levels of knowledge. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Selecting testing formats in the area of nursing is based on the course itself, material covered, and whether the test is a quiz or exam. Many times it is advantageous to use several different formats within one test.
The tests I use are multiple choice, most of the content that have to know is keywords. I use misspelled keywords to make sure the students not only understand the meaning of the term, but also know how to correctly spell the word.
I make up my own questions pertaining to the material.
Often take questions from the suggested test bank. This follows the objectives and content mastery. Always mix up the type-MC, T/F, short answer.
In guaging my students each mod, that determines my test. There are times where I used Essay, multiple choice, true/false, and completion.
Hi Cheryl - Thanks for your post to the forum. You describe very appropriate choices of assessments for specific purposes. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I would use diagnostic test to gauge the student’s weaknesses and strengths at the beginning of a course. I would use completion test to assess the student’s knowledge of facts, figures, and formulas. I would use multiple choice tests to assess material with a vast amount of content. I would use skill application test to measure the student's skill comprehension. I would use essays at the end of the course to assess the culmination of knowledge acquired.
Hi Pamela - Thanks for your post to the forum. You have a very balanced approach to teaching and assessment! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
So far in my teaching career I have been in the Administrative areas which seems like a lot of information of procedures and methods to the students so I use several learning methods to educate and reinforce the information.
Many of the students retain so much information and everyone is impressed with their abilities to learn.
I give weekly quizzes that contain Multiple-Choice, Complete Short Sentences, and True/False. I've decided to have the Mid-Terms and Finals in the dsame format; it is the presentations, typed reports and class assistance that are under the other learning variations that reinforce the power points and lectures. So far it all working.
Hi Timothy - Thanks for sharing some important things to keep in mind when we are creating tests. Best wishes - Susan
Hi Ellory - Thanks for your post to the forum. I also prefer to use a mix of assessment types. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Sometimes I use time as a consideration for testing. For instance, if I am giving a quiz then I will use several different testing formats such as true false or multiple choice to put together a short quiz that focuses on learning objectives. I use this as a quick check of the students retention of the previous days or weeks topics. If it is an end of course assessment, I will chose a combination of true false, multiple choice, and essay questions in order to test true understanding of the material. They will have longer to think about the questions and answer so I bring essays and short answers into the testing equation.
When selecting test formats, I like to use three basic rules. First, I always consider the students. What is the student environment like in the class. Are these new students, or have they been in school for a while? Second, I consider the course content. What is the subject matter of the class? Is the class content more subjective and analytical? Or is the class based on more theoretical concepts. Finally, I identify any time constraints. How much time will the students have to take the tests? Will there be any limitations in time to finish the test.
Hi Kathy - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a great mix of assessments - great work!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
This is a great question. In determining the type of teacher I would be I pulled from my previous knowledge. I must be honest in saying that I more commonly decided to be "not like" a past instructor than deciding to be "just like" one. I say this cautiously, since I have been very blessed in my education and have had many wonderful teachers, but things I will not put my students through stand out from previous courses. I will never make a multiple choice test with answers a-z! And sometimes into the double letters i.e. aa, bb, cc...etc. Those tests confused and stumped even the most brilliant students in the class. And secondly I will not create stems for MC tests that have misspellings and grammatical errors! I remember interpreting questions because the grammar was so poor that I wasn't sure I was even answering what the instructor wanted. Needless to say, when I create my tests, I have 5-6 sections on each test, some MC, some T/F, some matching, some completion, some short answer, and some essay. That way I feel as if I get a better idea of what my students have learned.
I use a varity of test types. My tests generally consists of muliple choice, true/false,completion questions, and ccasionally I add matching. For classes such as respiratory equipment, the students also have to preform skills application.
The subject matter is the primary issue. I usually use a smattering of all forms (T/F, matching, short answer, etc) on each test. I must admit, however, that class size can be a consideration as well - the larger the class, the fewer essay type questions I'll use.
Hi Daniel - It is more difficult to use short answer questions for the reason that you cite. Unless we are very careful to write a question that can only have ONE correct answer, we will encounter arguments. Best wishes- Susan
