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Most of my program require that I teach learning concepts,and procedures. The courses also have a "hands on" component. The students need to be able to "think".
The style of testing I tend to lean towards are the objective tests. Putting a combo of true/false, multiple choice, matching and of course some fill in the blanks. I use objective tests most of the time simple because in the field I teach, there is only 1 correct answer. The students are also tested on skill application at least once every 6 weeks.
Students are required to take national boards at the end of their program. The test is a straight forward objective standardized test. I like to get the students to "think" and the type of tests I give do exactly that. This is all taught under the guidelines of the program.

Since I am an English Instructor, I use the essay and short answer method the most. Also, I do use some multiple choice questions. It is interesting because I have noticed that my students seem to perform better when they have to write the answer and not select from a multiple listing of answers. It is possible that they have to focus on writing a correct answer. However, Some of their preconditioning skills to test taking show that when they have a multiple choice question, they tend to guess at the information. This is one reason why I use the essay and short answer method. It reinforces what they know and what they don't know. This allows me to pinpoint skills or methods that they might have missed during the lecture.

Hi Sherrie - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a great mix of assessments! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

The course objectives, level of your students, and the material you are teaching should be the basis for selecting testing formats. It is also important to look at what other assignments you are expecting the students to complete.

I have found this to be true also. I teach a class that teaches students testing techniques though. when I told them to watch for the 'absolute' words, such as 'always' and 'never', they started to pay attention to the content of the questions. Their score went up slightly, as a result.

I like to incorporate a variety of testing formats for any quiz or test I give. My quizzes will have a little T/F,completion, and matching. For a major test, it will be multi-choice and short answer explanation questions.

Most students tell me they like multi-choice tests because they are easy to guess and pass. So I try to mix it up when I give test assessments. I don't want them to guess. I want them to think and know the answer.

Hi - Thanks for your post to the forum. Your assessment choices are excellent! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

I like multiple choice, matching, & completion. I teach in a medical assistant program. I don't like True or False - cuz the student has a 50/50 chance of being correct - which they do by guessing.

I usually give a review before quizes or Midterms & Finals, so they have a better idea.

As for the skills part - if there is a computer program, the students are encouraged to do so in order to have a greater practice base when they go to their externship.

As a Marketing instructor, I like to use both multiple choice formats (for technical knowledge) and presentations (for helping students in the real world of business).

My test format selection when it comes to text material is always the same. I use t/f, multiple choice, matching and essay. I like to use these options because it allows me to assess the students through different forums, however, I find the essay to be the most important. The reason for my focus on essay questions is due to the area in which I teach. Being a paralegal instructor it is important to know that the student is going to be able to communicate with the client because communication is the most important thing to a client. Many of the terms and concepts that we deal with are foreign to an ordinary client, therefore students must be able to simplify the information for the client to understand how/why their case is proceeding the way that it is. Now when it comes to testing application, I like to give my students a hypothetical along with several of the forms/letters that they have been asked to prepare over the term. This way I am able to evaluate whether or not they would be able to follow instructions given to them by supervisor.

Thanks for the question. I use quizzes, which are mostly matching and sometime true/false, unit tests are given when the contents are covered and finally the completion test is given. The grading pattern is quiz is 15% of the final grade, unit test is 40%, completion test is 40% and class room assessment is 5%. It is working very good. If anybody has better suggestion please let me know.

The content of the materail covered and the requirements of the course.

Because, some students do well on multiple choice, some do well on True and False, and others do well on completion tests; I try to incorporated a variety of each these questions in my exams.

Hi Vickie- I think that your assessment choices are quite appropriate! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan

I usually have a sampling of multiple choice, true/false, matching, and completion tests.
I don't tend to lean toward short answer or essay questions, because grading can be subjective. -- However, if I were teaching a critical thinking class, I might be more inclined to go with short answer questions.

I agree with you. I noticed this problem with most of the students. Even after you give them a True or False review questions, they tend to memorize the answers. Adding a word to the question that makes it false is a very common mistake. Students tend to familiarize themselves with the words and not what is being asked.

I teach a class that requires students to know, understand, apply theoretical models for behavior. When testing, I am more concerned that they be able to explain and apply concepts than memorize definitions.

due to the natur of the school i wor for,i used the standardized testing that they provide for us to use. in the near future im hoping to add my own style of testing to see if it will help give the students a better opportunity to learn

Hi Joanne - Good correlation between the expected learning outcomes and your assessments! Best wishes - Susan

I use standarized testing which includes MC & T/F questions and some completion questions. I make sure that that I cover the learning outcomes outlined in their textbooks, so that the students can use it as a study guide for the test. I, also, engage the students various learning styles so that no one is "left behind" in the learning process.

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