Multiple Choice
A quick way to evaluate a students knowledge is by way of a multiple choice exam.
Johnny, Yes, multiple choice often works great in combination with other testing methods. I should note that to your point, there are right and wrong ways to structure multiple choice questions. Some are more effective than others at preventing guessing.
Dr. Melissa Read
Multiple choice can devolve too many times into mere guessing for students, and for instructors, there are some who make their multiple choice exams so indecipherable as to encourage guessing. Multiple choice is a very tool, but as you say, other methods should accompany it.
Carrie, This is an important point. Some grading methods are efficient but not effective, depending on the course material. We must think carefully about how we assess knowledge when selecting the perfect fit methods for our classes.
Dr. Melissa Read
I mainly use multiple choice exams to assess content knowledge, but I also use matching and short answer. Multiple choice can also be knows as multiple guess and that is not always an effective method of assessing student content knowledge.
Yes multiple choice is a good way to test but the whole test should be a mixture of all methods. I usually have matching, t/f, and fill in the blank. The multiple choice can get the student, if they are in a hurry they tend not to read the questions.
Siddra, I fully agree. Each testing method helps us assess knowledge uniquely. Incorporating a variety of methods is often the best approach when we are driving toward holistic assessment.
Dr. Melissa Read
Multiple choice format is an easy way of evaluation both for students and instructors. But this should not be the only way to grade students. Short answers and questions and reasoning should be included for their assessment.This will give a better picture of their understanding of course material.
I agree, it is a quick way, but it may not give an accurate assessment of the student's retention of the information. I like to have combination tests - a section of multiple choice, with short-answer and fill-in-the-blank questions.
I use essays for homework assignments, and allow myself at least two days to grade them. If I try to get through them all at once, I find that I may grade less objectively on the assignment - which is unfair to the student. So, I will separate pile that needs grading into parts.
Multiple choice questions are nice and work well, but I don't think they should be the only type of questions given.
Agreed and easy to grade. at the same time, the student needs to review all answers before making a choice.
