Open Book Tests
I am not a fan of open-book tests, because I feel it does not show whether a student learned material, but how quickly can they look up the information. What are your thoughts?
I am not a big fan of open book tests. As I give my students assignments to complete, I use an in class test to evaluate their understanding. I also do not give take home exams as I give homework assignments or research papers.
I do surprise open book test. We go over it together. I think it prepares them more and it's just another way to get them to study. They will start discussions about what they are having trouble with and they tell each other how they remember this or that.
Hi Lee, Thanks for your post to the forum. I teach Critical Thinking and Research Skills is part of that class. I agree - very important! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
In the business we teach, knowing how and where to look up information is a plus. Our specifics are changing monthly and go out of date like yesterdays newspaper. What was that about the pailest ink is stronger than the best memory.
I agree that students tend to spend more time trying to find the answers than to use their own knowledge to identify the correct answer. If I do allow notes, I suggest that they try to answer all of the questions first and then go back to the ones they might have not understood so well and get "help" from their notes. Generally, I only use "open material" when there are lots of charts with values that I don't necessarily want the students to memorize, but they would need access to in order to answer questions.
Thank you for your advice. Debbie
Hi Debbie, Thanks for your post to the forum. I prefer to get an sort of test, Open book or not, over at the start of class so that my students will concentrate on the new material that I am teaching. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
John,
I think you brought up a good point on having "open book" exams to increase the awareness of students to read the materials or at least dive into looking at them. I look for ways to encourage students to read the book before they come to class, hopefully taking these short open book exams gets them thinking in that direction.
I was wondering if it is more effective to do an open book exam right away in class or at the end of a class period? If I want them to read the next chapter, I was thinking at the end of class would be more effective. The idea is to wet their appetite on the next topic - I teach communication courses so it really helps to read the text book to enter into discussions the following day.
I have to agree. There needs to be a balance of retaining information and being able to find information needed for the posed problem. I would not give every test as open book but I do think that in classes where there is a great deal of technical information to read and digest, having them read it once then re-read when answering the quesiotn on the test can only help to solidify it to memory.
I have never given an open book test but know teachers who have done so. I want my students to retain information so they are able to have a discussion in the field. I think that is more important than knowing where to look in the book. In this day and age the internet allows us to look up anything. It is true understanding that is important
I don't give open book tests but I do give out worksheets based on the assigned chapters. When I announce an upcoming test, I'll give students the option to complete an extra credit assignment. If they do the assignment, I allow them to use their worksheet as notes for the exam.
I agree with you. I do not like to give open book test because it does not show me what they have learned. I have found that students actually do worst on these test because they do not study so they spend all their time looking for the awnsers instead of actually taking the test.
Hi Danielle, I agree that the open book format is better suited to specific classes such as yours. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Cohorts,
I only use open book assessments for Medical Law&Ethics, where the content is quite difficult for my students. They are allowed to use notes also, which I provide to supplement my lectures. I add quite a bit of current events to my course, so students are also test on that. If they are not present or particiatping actively, then they will not even pass the "open book" tests. Usually, I don't like the easy connotation, but in this case, it works.
Open books tests can be a real nightmare...it does not allow you to know their true understanding of the material. I have also found that a test that should have taken on 15 minutes to complete would take student 45 mins. to an hour. I found that they will even look the answers to questions they already know.
I will not generally allow open book tests, but I will have open note tests. I will place a time limit on the exam so that they do not have the ability to look through their notes for every answer. I will also ensure that there are a section of essay type questions that cannot be answered without having an understanding of the material. I find that students tend to do worse when they are allowed to have their notes then they do when they are not able to use their notes.
Hi Tina, Interesting how many teachers are totally against open book tests, and others, (like myself and you) see a good purpose for them. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I am a huge fan of open-book tests. I offer open-book tests because I give them with the conditions that they cover 5 or more chapters at a time, and are at least 100 questions. I feel that this type of test encourages the students to definitely read the material before the examination because otherwise they would be clueless.
I agree with John I am not a fan of open book test. But it does give you a base line to see which of your students actually read their books and course content. Like most students they do a brief read through just to complete the chapter review that they have to turn in for homework. And never take the time to absorb the the information that they are reading.
