Essays and multiple choice
When it comes to grading if you have one long essay and one multiple choice then it would take much longer. If you have five essay and 50 multiple choice the time would seem to be a lot closer, maybe even shorter for the 5 essay. would you recomend fewer essays or more multiple chioce as fas as time and getting the assement you need.
Dale, Great point and thanks for sharing. Each discipline is different. For some professions, essay writing is key. For others, it's far less important. It's a really great approach to talk to potential employers of your students - no matter what your discipline - and find out what they are looking for so you can train for that.
Dr. Melissa Read
The suggestion that we move away from essay assignments is contrary to the feedback I get from the potential employers of our students. These employers often comment that students lack writing skills and the best way to learn how to write is to write, followed by instructor critique.
I utilize multiple choice alot because-the answer is always there!! When I reassure the students that the answer is there and if they came to class, did all the assignments, and studied they will be fine. It's then, that I see a look of relief in their eyes. I don't like to grade short answers but I agree that it is often the best way to determine if a student understands a process or concept or can develop a solid solution or opinion.
I tend to use the multiple Choice typee questions more frequently, however at least once at defined intervals I will have the students do essays to assessment the overall learning and understandinding concepts of the course and the objectives.
Makes sense Hubert. Sometimes we need students to write out their answers to really understand their knowledge of our course material.
I lean more to short answer, definitions, lists, examples, and occasionally an essay topic. This
is included w/ objective questions as well.
I like to get some idea and expression from the
student when assessing the particular areas.
Yes, fewer and shorter essay style questions work best for assessing knowledge. You can include these at the end of longer multiple choice tests too.
