Grading
Being a media professor grading is something that is very different in our world. Essentially every project we give students is very objective and not based of facts. We have to be very open when grading projects as many of these projects relate to students and their experiences.
Joan, That's an interesting point about essays. For me, the key to overcoming subjectivity in essay exams is to establish grading rubrics or criteria. This makes grading a lot more fair and helps reduce the amount of time it takes to grade.
Dr. Melissa Read
The exams I give in the classroom are mostly multiple choice and true/false. Not only does it expedite grading but is clear and precise answers. Essays tend to be subjective in nature allowing for various interpretation.
Lori, That's great to hear. People who teach speech communications and classes like it are in an interesting position. Grading and assessment can often happen in the classroom. This is a wonderful time saver!
Dr. Melissa Read
I give a lot of multiple choice questions to test basic knowledge of facts,which are quick and easy to grade
My students must do a oral presentation to the class every module which helps me to assess the depth of their understanding . I also assess their communication skills in our class discussions.
Jamie, So true! It also helps the students focus on providing complete answers. Some students tend to include a lot of fluff in their essay responses. When tasked with underlining the important parts of their essay, they are reminded to completely answer questions.
Dr. Melissa Read
I really appreciate the recommendation of having students underline/highlight the important parts of essay questions. This allows the instructor to focus on the correct answer as well as ensure the students are able to form complete sentences.
I, too try to test with multiple choice tests. However, we are looking to use performance based tests to prove competency. For example, a new student should be able to attach a network drive and create a short cut to a file on that drive. The performance test requires observation and scoring manually.
I teach Allied Health as well. I have a concern with Multiple Choice questions or Matching. It does make grading easier but I like to do fill in the blank. It takes longer but I am looking for correct spelling along with the correct answer. These students will be writing in a legal document and need to know how to spell correctly. If I am only doing multiple choice to make grading easy on me it isn't allowing me to know if they know how to spell. I just let the students know they can except to have a grade in 24 hours. This way they aren't expecting a grade right away.
I agree. It is hard to grade lots of projects at the same time. I like to break them up.
I use true and false and multiPle choice as well. But I make sure that I proofread my questions and my answers.
Carolyn, I'm glad you asked! Yes, there are a few options. The one that has worked best for me is to assign each student with a unique code number at the start of the semester. Instead of putting their names at the tops of their papers, they use the code number instead. This way, peer student graders do not learn the identity of the student who they are grading for. At the same time, you have a system that keeps track of everything.
Dr. Melissa Read
I do like the idea of saving time by letting students trade quizzes for student grading. The problem at our school is the "privacy issue." Any suggestions so students do not know whose test they are grading?
The grading that I use for 95% of my tests and quizzes is multiple choice. Students like to get their grades back in a timely manner and this makes grading go much quicker.
Sheryl, I understand where you are coming from. I too struggle with students who cannot write in complete sentences. I find them at all levels and I often ask myself how they could have possibly gotten this far in their education. Your point speaks to the need to balance our grading efficiency with test rigor. We must ensure that our exams deeply test student knowledge and challenge students our to continue to learn and grow.
Dr. Melissa Read
Marla, I like your thinking. It's nice to be able to offer a variety of testing formats to deeply assess knowledge. At the same time, adding quick grading formats to the mix -- like multiple choice -- can give your grading a much needed turbo boost.
Dr. Melissa Read
I notice one point that I don't see anyone has made when it comes to giving essay exams. I believe it is a MUST for all teachers because students must be able to clearly communicate the written word. Are students coming into our colleges who can't write a clear, complete sentence? YES! Why is this? Perhaps it partly because teachers are so busy and stressed that it's hard to assign and really grade writing/thinking skills, but we MUST. Not all the time, of course, but at least a bit in every course. We all have to work together to reinforce the importance of good writing/thinking skills or guess what? Students will graduate from college still not able to write a clear, complete sentence. REALLY?
Multiple choice works very well for my course. I do switch it up at times and throw in one or two essay or fill in the blank questions. Its faster for me to grade and leg me know they students are absorbing my information.
I agree. Grading can take alot of time, so I use multiple choice quizes and exams as well.
I have to grade film/video projects which can be difficult as it's hard to have purely objective grading. Creativity can be very subjective and often I have to wonder did the student do something right accidentally or because they firmly grasp the material.
