megan,
Don't apologize for your type of assessment. I think sometimes we become so tied to Blooms and getting learning to the higher level that we forget there is a purpose for measuring at the lower level. Without acquiring that base knowledge. Higher level learning won't exist.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Cynthia,
I agree with you. A well developed rubric helps both the student and the instructor in measuring outcomes.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Cynthia,
I agree with you regarding your thoughts on subjective assessment. I also use it in the online environment as I can compare writing to ensure academic integrity.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Cynthia,
You are right there is value in both types of assessment. There are purposes for both types of assessment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Randolph,
Some courses do as well as the issue of academic integrity can also push an instructor to a subjective assessment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Ola,
You are right. There is a benefit for having mixed types of evaluations. Workload of the instructor must also be considered.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I use a mixture of objective and subjective evaluations. Using only one method of evaluation would be ineffective, so it is good to utilize all kinds of evaluation if possible. I like creating exams/quizzes that feature a good mix of true/false, multiple choice, some matching, then having an essay or open-ended question at the end. I think that is the best way to get a well-rounded evaluation, it accesses different parts of the students' brain as well- thinking about the information in different forms.
We mostly use objective for the evaluations. Our online program can grade the assessments and leave feedback for the student. We can change the quiz, the answers, reword the questions, etc. depending on the student scores and answers.
Evaluation and assessments of students are value-added information points that not only show you what students are (are not) learning but also can be a measure of how well instructors are delivering the material. The types of evaluations/assessments used can be determined by various factors, especially enrollment size. I've taught classes as large as 150 students (traditional F2F format) and I've taught as little as 15-20 students. You (I) certainly wouldn't administer the same time of assessment to both courses. I found in large enrollment courses, multiple choice is often the best measure. I'm not sure if any instructor wants to read 150 multiple essay question exams. However, in smaller class sizes I've used a variety of assessment formats (e.g., matching, short answer, essay).
I found each to have its pros and cons.
Anthony
As with most other instructors, I use a combination of both in the classes that I teach. However, many of my courses have a higher frequency of objective evaluations, in part because the content is aimed at acquiring knowledge and not necessarily new skills. However, in a course such as Medical Law & Ethics, there is a much higher degree of subjective work required since a bulk of the learning occurs through discuss and evaluation of case studies and less through memorization of facts.
Hello Nicole,
I also use rubrics which helps students to see the objective evaluation of their success at achieving learning outcomes in an essay assignment.
Cynthia
I agree, Patti. Even though I can see the value in objective testing in an English course (i.e. can you identify a thesis? an argument claim? a biased statement? a generalization) in a live chat situation (I teach online) to do a quick assessment of students' prior knowledge, but I still prefer subjective assessment of essays because I can provide more feedback that can lead to deeper learning.
Cynthia
I teach English Composition, so subjective evaluation is used mostly through assessing students' essays using rubrics which evaluate content/development, organization/communication, critical thinking, and documentation. However, our school implemented an adaptive learning platform which now provides students with learning content and multiple choice questions to objectively test their understanding and application of writing essays. This type of objective assessment has provided me with more tools to use to assess individual students as well as the all students' knowledge of these skills, so I can adjust my teaching accordingly.
I see the value in both types of assessment.
Cynthia
Teaching a didactic course through an online platform mandates essay assignments.
I have used both Objective evaluations and Subjective evaluations. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Subjective assignments are more flexible, since you get to know the students thoughts and analytical skills more than the objective assignments.
Sherrilyn,
No problems in that! More foundational courses typically are lower on the Bloom's taxonomy and don't require that type of evaluation.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Juliet,
I agree with you. Writing is a lost skill period. I think it is important for students to articulate their learning. Good post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In my case, it depends on what class I am teaching. I find that when I am teaching my introduction to computer class, I like to use objective evaluations. However, when I am teaching my advanced level classes, I like to use subjective evaluations.
I try to use a combination of both, and it does depend on the subject matter. There are times when each is appropriate...but I try to use both because information needs to be mastered, but the presentation of info in a written form (essay) is just as important. Writing is a lost skill, especially in online classes...
Ben,
How do you articulate your expectations to your students? How do you monitor your own consistency in your grading?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
