I was like Chad this week. I was giving a test and I pulled out an old test from the book. I found numerous mistakes. The format of the test was nothing like we have learned.
* capital letters were not used in responses
* the distractors were in no specific order
* the responses were not in column form
* the stems were difficult to read or understand what the were asking for
* there were no directions
So, after going back and changing the test I found that the students preferred the new test.
They mentioned:
*that it was easier to read and understand
*they actually learned the material other than memorizing
*they finished the test quicker
I have found that if the students prefer a test a certain way and that it helps them learn the material I will take more time to adjust tests. I know that this means a lot more work for me but in the end it is worth it if the students actually know that material.
We could all no doubt benefit from learning more about test design and from reviewing our old tests. When one considers how much is riding on high stakes tests these days for students, teachers, and administrators, one can only hope that these tests are well-designed, validated, culturally sensitive, and fair. I think assessment is a really tough nut to crack. It takes a lot of careful thought and analysis to design a good test.
ReplyDeleteWow me too. When completeing the assignment for class, I started looking at my old tests. I too found many errors. It was like looking for the hidden pictures in the Sunday funnies. After making changes to one of my tst, I gave it to my students. They seemed to do better on it then others they had taken. I really love the test grid idea too. It gives me a chance to really see that I am testing what I teach. I passed the idea on to my husband who is also a teacher and he thought it was great. I am really looking forward to what will ahppen when I try an essay test with the scoring grid to go with it. I think it too will make a big difference.
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