Answer sheets
In my field, multiple choice, true-false, matching, fill in the blank and short answer tests are the best way to assess my students. I give them an answer key for them to write thierry answers on, that way I can easily match their answers, line by line and quickly grade. That way I can reduce student anxiety and ensure their tests are returned and grades posted in a timely manner.
I was using the multiple choice testing, but the answers were circled on the physical test. I have now incorporated separate answer sheets which have streamlined my grading process. I have elimnated the printing of new tests in every class. What a difference in time this has made!
This has become my approach as well, it also reduces the amount of copying that is required because the tests are not written on
Gayle, So true. There are so many other kinds of question formats to choose from. Essays are great at testing writing as well as critical thinking. For some courses, these skills are key. For others, we focus more on whether students remember key information. For those, short answer and multiple choice can work better.
Dr. Melissa Read
Keep them short and to the point, and don't have them on every test. I find that essays only evaluate the students ability to write well and communicate their thoughts on paper, but other evaluation tools work well too. Short answers work well in evaluating their knowledge, in my opinion, just as well as essay.
I agree with having diverse methods to assess the students. Some students do not test well and certain methods is not a true assessment of their skill set.
However, at the same time using various methods: True/ False, multiple choice, short essay and matching is a great way to assess the students accurately and effectively while implementing time management skills to streamline the grading process.
Edna, Thanks so much for sharing! I'm so happy to hear that you were able to take a time consuming essay format and turn it into something that you can grade many times faster. For some instructors, what you've accomplished is not possible. Some teach courses in which essay formats are required for the best evaluation of student knowledge. However, most of the time, this is not the case.
Dr. Melissa Read
The majority of exams, especially the final for any class, were composed largely of essays. Our essay questions would often ask for a procedure or a comparison/contrast of two or three products. I found that grading the essays took a great deal of time. It was difficult to return the exams the next day so that it could be reviewed in a timely manner. Over the past 9+ years of instructing many of the classes we offer in our curriculum, I have managed to change many of the essay questions to a multiple choice format. They are so much easier to grade!
I wrote the essay for the question and left blanks at strategic junctures. Students would choose from possible words or phases, in a multiple choice format, to correctly complete the essay. This exposed the student to professional trade speak from the instructor and expedited grading. To be successful, the student would need a good command of the topic.
I use the same style at my place of work and it works great for me.
Wallace, Interesting approach. If you can organize your students to hand in assignments this way, that's great. Some instructors have trouble when they ask students to do the heavy lifting. In your case, sounds like it's not a problem.
Dr. Melissa Read
I have had my students hand all labs and tests in order of the rollshet this helps manage the load.
I also use true-false style and multiple choice. I have a template for corecting the test that is clear and slides over the bubble style A-D answers. I find its quick and the students now have time to review the mistakes they have made.
I would tend to agree. True/false and multiple choice are typically a great way to assess students. Some may think that is the easy way out for the instructor. Yet, these types of tests are typically very challenging! I have taken several national boards for licensure as multiple choice and they were tough!
Having a scantron machine available is a great way to reduce grading time even more!
What do you do for essays?
Renee, Sounds like you have a great system in place. Note that systems that work well in one field may not transfer over well to another. Formats like multiple choice, true-false and matching may be good for nursing for example, but not good for culinary or basic writing. We've got to be flexible with our grading systems depending on what we teach.
Dr. Melissa Read
