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FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!

Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Fixing old exams

I was giving a test this week in one of my classes, and when I pulled out the test to make copies I looked over it and realized that it needed major reconstructive surgery. I thought back to the things we’ve been learning in class and began the task of fixing the problems, which were numerous:
· Multiple blanks in the stem of some completion questions
· Blanks in the middle of the stem of completion questions
· Not using capital letters for multiple choice alternatives
· Varying length in the multiple choice alternatives
· Using simple True/False instead of modified
· Inconsistent use of columns for multiple choice questions
· Unbalanced coverage of material

It took a while to fix everything, and when I was finished I compared the old with the new and wanted to apologize to the students who had to take the original exam. I proceeded to administer the new test to my students the next day, and after grading them all I got some interesting results:
· Reduction in high missed questions
· A higher class average on the test than previous classes
· Overall, students took less time to complete the exam
· Students were marking questions False for the wrong reasons, which tells me that I need to revisit and clarify some material

Now I need to start fixing the rest of my exams, but the students will probably appreciate it.

2 comments:

Jessie H said...

Glad to see that you are applying what you're learning in Dr. B's course. You will probably find that you'll want to make quite a number of revisions next year we you revisit your activities, assessments, lesson plans. I am constantly refining and revising all of my materials. It helps keep things fresh and inspiring.

lorid said...

I feel your pain in the tests. I have the same problems. Dr. Burn's class has really helped me and I know the students as well. I am already changing the upcoming tests.