It depends on the class I'm teaching. I refer to the syllabus and ensure that the material is covered both in my teaching and on the quizzes and exams I give.
Generally, I review the test bank, and then select and revise questions.
I think combination of object and short essay tests are best. I often provide a longer "problem" or exercise, worth several points--students need to show the steps that they followed to arrive at answers.
Extra credit or bonus points generally will involve students relating how what they've learned will be applied in the "real" world.
The selection of testing formats varies with the type of course that I am teaching. The format used in an accounting class must not only address terminology but also application of the material learned. A useful format in a management theory class would be both multiple choice (to assess the concepts and terminology learned) and short anwer (to allow both objective and subjective responses).
My selection of testing formats depends on the course I am teaching. For instance medical Terminology is more repitition and memorization and would not require essay type testing.
At first, my criteria for testing formats were mostly fill-in-the-blanks, and short essays. Well after completing this module, I understand why matching, or multiple choice questions, and/or true or false questions are preferred. I never really thought about testing a student on "what they already know" versus what they don't. I always believed it was the opposite. This was very interesting.
My first test usually has True/False, Multiple Choice, Fill-Ins. Whatever my class did the best on that is how I choose the format of future tests.
For me, determining the format will depend on the class. In my lab classes, I typically use a skill assesment test. In lecture, I try to make a test that can cover a few different formats on one test.
It depends on the class. Multiple choice tests work well in most situations involving factual material.
My testing format depends on the class I am teaching. It also depends on the subject that we are on and what is needed to be tested. For example, if I am teaching anatomy I like to have my students lable things like the parts of the heart, or the bones in the body. If I am teaching a Hematology class hands on is the best way to test I want to know that my students can go out in the world and draw blood not just be able to answer questions about it. However, for all other classes I like to do the multiple choice, and short answers. The one I do not care for at all and almost never use is the true and false because they are confusing to the students and the one thing I do not want is for them to be confused about the subject that I am teaching or to get something mixed up because of the true and false question. However,on the rare occasion that I do use true and false my students have to tell me what makes the statement true and what makes the false statement false and how to make is a correct statement.
We use standardized tests from a CD mostly. I also use short answer quizzes for checking daily comprehension. I prefer skills application for teaching my courses though because I teach a medical models course.
For classroom information I use multiple choice questions due to the amount of information the students need to be tested on. For clinical evaluation, hands on assessments are used to test the students on their ability to perform the required tasks they will be doing in their job.
you must be sure, first of all, to have the test ressemble the lecture material.
I do the same thing, Saranna. I print out the questions from the test bank for every chapter and when I prepare my lecture or class activity, I make sure that the questions are covered.
I teach nursing courses and because the test format for NCLEX is mainly multiple-choice questions, this is the format that I use. This is also one way of training the nursing students to answer NCLEX type questions so that when they sit for the actual exam, they will not be so stressed out when they see the questions.
I also use the questions from the test bank for quizzes and major exams. However, I make it a point to review the questions and to make sure that the answers to the questions are incorported in my lecture. I find it unfair for the students to give them questions about a topic or concept that was not even mentioned in class.
I use all test formats. I find in order to give students a well rounded test you need to.
I first try to determine what my students are capable of. Second, I have to make sure of the amount of time I have to grade the tests. Third, what class am I teaching (medical terminology majority of questions are completion to check their spellings).
It really depends on the format of the class. I teach a pharmacy technician program some classes require recall like what a particular drug is used for which is better done with matching or completion questions. If we're learning to make IV's then I would use a hands on method of testing.
This definitely depends on course content. If it is a coding course, I prefer fill in the blank as it allows for allocation of partial points and it truly tests students concepts regarding utilization of the core concepts. If it is a course that students memorize concepts (e.g. A&P, med term) I prefer multiple choice or matching.
I like to use a variety of formats in each of my tests
Because I am a Criminal Justice Instructor, I use a variety of testing formats. For example,I may incorporate a combination of T/F and Multiple Choice exams to test knowledge of factual information. then, because my field is practical, I will issue a skills assessment exam to test demonstration and proficiency in practicalicality and protocol, along with communication skills.
It depends on the class. For English, a mixture of true/false, multiple choice, then demonstrations of proofreading and writing skills. For Interpersonal Communications, I'm all fired up now; the test questions I've been using came with the book and are absolutely horrible, breaking rule after rule discussed here. I've already rewritten many of them over the years, especially the negative multiple choices.
