Creating Effective Assessments | Origin: ED103
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Student Learning and Assessment--> Creating Effective Assessments
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
There is a danger in using standardized test. Standardized test must be previewed to be sure to material has been taught before testing students, because some standardized test do not match the text book. It has been interesting studying the tests and there purposes for students. We will be using different test types to cover multiple study learning styles.
This block was very informative and a great tool for determining testing methods depending on the subject. I personally took a lot of notes that I considered valuable to becoming a professional Instructor. Great stuff!
Understanding that each assessment has a reason a deeper sense of reasoning is very important. Test design has to be appropriate for material covered and consistent.
One major weakness of multiple choice tests is the ease with which they can be structured to require only recognition or recall information
Pros and Cons of different testing. It also has helped me understand the differences and what would be a better choice to use in class
Types of written tests may vary from the most used, multiple choice to the less used: essay questions. There are also fill-in-the-blank tests, matching questions and short-answer tests. Multiple choice tests cover a wide range of objectives.
Performance tests or skill tests include performing a task, such as showing an examiner the ability to safety wire.
Diagnostic tests are used to measure a student's level of knowledge they already possess and are used mostly at the beginning of class. This gives the instructor feedback on how they should tailor the class.
Whatever testing method is used, the instructor has to take into account the content validity and reliability. Objective tests are a more valid and reliable method of testing. Essay and short answer tests are more subjective and used to test higher cognitive skills.
I've learned that formative assessments are just as important as summative assessments. We ought to be assessing our students' understanding regularly.
Effective Assessments are going to give you the roadmap to what needs to be increased, decreased or changed in how information is delivered to the students. Utilizing the assessment whether essays or quizzes etc., they are going to show what the students knows and understands.
Comment on Lincoln Hodnett's post:
I also use a combination of technics to assess what students are learning. I put emphasis on observation and how well they are able to apply what they learned in the classroom to hands-on activities in the Lab.
how to create effective test to evaluate content retention
This module reinforced that an effective assessment should measure what students were actually expected to learn and should be connected to the objectives of the lesson. I learned that assessments do not have to be limited to traditional tests and that different types of assessments can give a better picture of what a student understands and can do. I intend to apply this by making sure my assessments match the skills I am teaching and by using a combination of questions, observation, demonstrations, and projects. In my CTE classroom, I want to place more emphasis on whether students can actually apply a skill successfully, since that is often more meaningful than simply being able to answer questions about it.
I learned that different assessments can be used to activate different thinking processes. Some may be easier in nature like multiple choice but it allows students to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking. Knowing what assessments to use and when to do it will help in my students' sucess.
This was definitely eye opening on the pros and cons of different styles of test.
Comment on Carmen Nezic Pacheco's post: Great!
vary your test types for different learning areas
Effective assesments should correctly measure what students have been taught and understand. I will use different assesment methods in my class to check student learning and provide helpful feedback.
It was interesting to read about the pros and cons of the different types of test questions. When I teach, I will try to ensure that my type of question matches with my goals and the students' knowledge level.
I learned a lot of valuable content on how to form proper test questions across many styles of tests (t/F, multiple choice, essay, etc.) and why some forms of testing are more appropriate and beneficial in specific situations.
Completion questions are an alternative to selection items for testing recall, and are especially useful in assessing mastery of factual information when a specific word or phrase is important to know.
