Hi Dale - You are using an appropriate mix of assessment types. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I like to create tests with many different formats. I like completion questions the best because I feel that they test the student's knowledge the most. However, I rarely make an exam that is only completion. The type of questions I use often depends on the subject matter. Sometimes the students themselves may determine which I use. If there are many foreign language students I will tend to use more multiple choice than completion. If the students in the class seem more advanced I may use more short answer or completion. I don't really like true or false because I feel it's sometimes more of a guess, but I do use them. I make them a bit more definitive by asking the students to make false questions true.
We use a variety of testing formats here at our school. We teach a wide range of hands-on computer courses. Part of our testing is done with hands-on lab work where the student is presented with a lab scenario and then must create documents to complete the scenario. We follow that up with a mix of True/False, Multiple Choice, Short Answer and Matching quizzes at various points during the course. This fulfills our criteria for testing in that we can see that the student has absorbed the terminology and basic knowledge necessary to use the product but also tests their ability to use the product in a real-life lab situation to solve a problem or create a document.
Hi Bertram - Thanks for your post to the forum. When I use test bank questions I always review them to be sure that they accurately reflect what I have been presenting. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Robyn - Thanks for your post to the forum. Your assessment choices are well chosen! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Philip - Thanks for your post to the forum. Do you use a grading rubric for essays? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I rely on the test banks from the book publisher, since they are reliable and valid, also when to students disagree with the answers, I challenge them to address their concerns with the book publisher.
The criteria that I use for selecting testing formats depends on the type of class that I am teaching. For example, in a lab setting I will implement some form of hands on testing. This is so the students can actually apply what they have learned. In a classroom setting the test format will vary to attempt to reach all types of learners.
Gary Piontkowski
Being an English teacher, my exams usually consist of short, written essays. They are harder to grade, since they are very subjective, yet they test the students' abilities to write and comprehend the information.
The testing format, for me, is contingent upon what subject area I am testing. For instance, if it is for coding CPT and/or ICD-9 it will be a completion format. This tells me whether the student has full understanding of how to code. If I were to use multiple choice then I'm directing the answer and I lose critical information about their understanding of the material.
Another criteria I take into consideration is time - how much time do I have to administer the test and cover enough of the topic?
I also consider how long it is going to take to grade the testing - in some instance I want to give immediate feedback to the student and if it is in essay form that won't necessarily happen within that class period.
I have used all of the test formats in my classes, as a combination of two or all. I find that my students receive the worst grades when the majority of my test answers are True or False.
It depends on the class and department policy. Some classes have standardized tests while others require a practical test.
What content is being taught. How students best learn individually. What are the industry standards for successful functioning in the field.
I prefer multiple choice, it gives the students relaxed feeling. I also go for simple discussions on what they believe and stand for.
Hi Robin - Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that your priority in choosing assessments should be what will help them to pass the Registry exam. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I determine what level of learning according to Bloom's taxonomy I expect of the students. For most of my students, it is from knowledge to application.
My criteria are based on the accrediting organization guide lines to meet student guidelines for them to take a registry exam. Theory and hands on skills are the proiritized areas.Multiple choice,definitions,short essays, are the best choices for mt students.
Hi Paula- Thanks for your post to the forum. The assessment strategy that you are using is excellent! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
The nursing program uses multiple choice/ multiple response format throughout the 21 month program. This type of exam mirrors the NCLEX or the state board nursing exam that students must sit for to become a RN. We have recently developed a test blueprint that requires a certain number of knowledge, comprehension, analysis and higher level questions for the specific quarters; starting with more knowledge based questions at the beginning. By the time the students reach the last few quarters, they are receiving only higher level questions.
The criteria that I would use to select testing formats would include fairness, accuracy, reliability, and validity.
