I have found that students fear failure due to peer pressure. If you can realign the thoughts during review, to team work and then present the test as a written version of the review them seem to relax and let what they have already leanered lead them through the test. As far as using a threat of quiz as disipline, you should not be in the class room if thats your way of class control.
I find that many students will answer questions correctly then change their answers multiple times. They end up failing because they changed their answers. I try to encourage confidence in testing telling them that their first answer is usually the correct one. Don't overthink the question. This helps build their confidence.
The class after a lecture is ended by lining up the students and requiring them to answer a question correctly before they leave. I make it really exciting with high fives when they get it right. If they get it wrong, I say close, but end of the line. I explain in advance that by getting it wrong, they get the chance to study more and hear all the questions. Usually the students that get it right still stay to make sure they know everything. It's really a fun exercise. If I notice students uncomfortable with the process, I just ask them to stay to hear the questions so they can answer them in their heads.
Steven, interesting technique and one that is new to me. Did you discover this on your own or where did you find out about this technique? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Anjali, well done. Students learn so much more when they understand their mistakes versus just knowing which questions they got wrong.
James Jackson
I have had my students to use the answer sheet to cover the question and read one line at a time. This seems to help them read the question better and not overlook words that they otherwise do. The test scores are better with the students that do this. I have told the classes that this works. I can see a difference in the scores and it seems to take away some of the test taking fear.
I give the students a test review(study guide/ questions) a few days before the test. That gives students a chance to study the material from the notes that they took in class and the powerpoint information pertaining to the topic.
It also allows them a chance to dicuss topic/material they may have difficulty understanding or may not have got it from being absent
After quizzes are graded I hand them back to the students and I go over the answers with the class.I have made it part of my class so students aren't just looking at their score and handing the test back, they actually get to see where they have made mistakes and to correct them.
Anjali, good to have students do take home exercises that simulate actual quiz style questions. Do you allow students a chance to review the questions they get wrong so they can learn from their mistakes? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Kim, practice may not always make things perfect but the more students get opportunities to experience how a test is administered the more and more they will become comfortable with the overall process. Frequent assessments can be a great teaching tool as long as time is provided to review the results with the students and discuss why correct answers are correct and wrong answers are not the best response.
James Jackson
Dawnyell, taking this concept one step further, testing should be used as a learning tool and not simply a means of measurement. The process of reviewing the results of a test can make more of an impact than the actual lesson plan itself. What steps do you take after a test has been administered to use the results as a learning tool? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Jim, for some students it is more than just a fear of failure, they just do not handle the stress of test taking well. What techniques do you use so your students are comfortable with the tests you administer in your classes? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
After every Quiz/Test I give in class, I have the students hand the quiz back to me instead of placing it on the table. I go over it with them and point out questions they may not have answered at all. I'll ask those questions to them verbally and most of the times the answer they put down is correct. I have noticed that they just have the fear of being wrong and leave it unanswered.
Recently, I've been handing out practice problem for Culinary Math as homework. It's in the same format that is going to be on the quiz, so when they do get the quiz it's not a surprise for them and they are able to show that they can solve it rather than making it confusing by having to figure out the different format during the quiz.
I really like the idea of "practice" tests. I also agree that it may enhance the student's sense of security, in the long run. I have found that a classroom discussion re: test design and formatting at the beginning of the term can also alleviate the anxiety, that is felt by some.
Test should be used to meassure a student's knowlge not be used as a time out
I agree I am poor at taking test myself. But with my students as an cosmetology instructor I found good stratgies to help my students study and prepare for the theory and practical portion to pass the test. When we are on the clinic floor doing practicals. I time them also making sure everything is accurate and neat as they would do at stateboard. With the theory portion of the test I let my students go to the computer lab to test themselves making sure they record their score so that they can see there score and study. so basically I make sure they are comfortable and make sure they are well prepared for their test.
Most people fear taking tests, or actually what the result of taking a test could be. I seems the fear is a fear of failure. Any time a threat of using a quiz or test as discipline control technique is not only inaapropriate but unprofessional
David, does your institution provide any formal training for students on the best practices for taking a college level test? Some students do not know what questions to even ask with respect on how best to prepare. Test taking is as much a learned process as is any subject matter and the more your students know about the mechanics of test taking the better overall they will do. This has nothing to do with teaching to a test, rather the techniques they need to know to be good test takers.
James Jackson
Jane, great post and glad to see your students have a resource they can go to when they have concerns about testing. For many institutions, too many in fact, they only see the side of student testing that assumes students are not studying properly and this is the only factor they see when test scores are not good. Some students just do not know how to prepare and take a test. Sounds funny but they may have some from a school system that did not take the time to prepare them for college or they have been away from college for so long they have forgotten best practices on how to prepare and how to actually take a test. The more time you can spend with them as an instructor the better results you will receive.
James Jackson
i have a test that students must pass with an 80% to continue with the program i teach. this causes a lot of fear and anxiety. i try to prepair the student for this test by using what they already know to build confedence. also some humor before they take the test to releive some of the stress.
i would never use a test or quiz to discipline a student as this will surely get negative results.
I am fortunate to be able to teach Career Development and spend a significant deal of time discussing test anxiety with the new students. I tell the class that it is not unusual to have test anxiety. This lets them know that they are not alone and that this is common for many students.
I also give some personal examples of my own test anxiety and teach them techniques that I have used to help alleviate this issue for me.
Throughout this course I focus on how the students can build their postive belief in their abilitiy to succeed in school. It is amazing to see the positive results of this and see the levels of self esteem increase during the twelve weeks of the course.
I stand firm on the concept of "Believe in yourself and anything is possible!"
