Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question

1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.

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?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Learned About Making Test

During this current year I have only used test that were generated from exam view or pre-written test from the ctaern web site. I have learned how to create my own test from the material I will be teaching about at the time. My test will be specific and will relate to the content that I am teaching at the time. Looking back over some of my previous test, even those that were pre-written had many rules that were broken. One of the main rules was that the directions were not clear. The Burns book taught me a great deal and I will use it through out my teaching career.

TEACHER MADE TESTS - WHAT I HAVE LEARNED...

This semester I have learned that teacher made tests must show clarity at all times. Students should have no difficulty in reading and following instructions on any teacher made test.

It is very important for me to complete my "Mise En Place" (A French culinary term meaning 'everything in its place"). Mise En Place includes the collection of ingredients, equipment, and making a time plan to complete a task in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore as a teacher I have to make sure my Mise En Place for any test is completed so that my students can complete any test efficiently.

This semester I learned that any teacher made test should have clear directions, all items on test should be arranged in a logical manner; free from overlap. Test items should be clear and free from clues. Test should be numbered in consecutive order - all parts of a test item should be on the same page. There should be a minimum of three types of questions included on a test, for example essay type questions, true or false questions, and fill in the blank questions. The test should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Most important a teacher needs to follow the rules for each type of question. For example use modified type questions for true or false questions. Make sure there are four alternatives in multiple choice questions. There should be space for student name or number, date, and score on the test.

I have learnt so much more than when I started - I feel that I can now write a test at the higher level where my students need to be in terms of the depth of knowledge. All this new data I have and am continually processing will be used to continue writing test that challenge my students and allow them to keep working at higher levels - the end result being students that can think critically and out of the box.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Teacher made tests

The lesson on designing tests could not have come at a better time. Not long ago I was discussing with another teacher about how to make sure you are covering information on a test that you have introduced in class. The information Dr. Burns provided to us is so valuable. I have been teaching going on three years and have never been given this information. I did not know that it is better to use capital letters on the multiple choice test. I also did not know that it is better that the words true and false be written out instead of "F" or "T." I have noticed that on some tests when the students are asked to select true or false and they write the letters T or F it is a bit confusing at times to read. It was also good to know that when designing a test it is based on the objectives you have put in place. This really was an eye-opener to me because this new found information is going to allow me to improve the way I teach my students. I was excited about this lesson becasue this was an area of teaching I needed information about.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Learned about making tests

After we discussed the information in class - I went back over all the tests I wrote this year and the last. Totally amazed at how many rules I broke and how bad the tests were. Equally bad were all the existing tests left for me when I took over the program. What I am able to salvage is that the intent of the questions are good and make sense but the muliple choice and matching need to be done over. I am in the process of doing this and will have ready for the final exams due sometime next month. It is also interesting to look at tests given by other teachers outside my group. Lots of room for improvement. I will never look at a test again without remembering details we learned. Great information.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

What I Have Learned in Making Tests

You've done it again! Just when I think I have learned enough about teaching, I realize how much I do NOT know about teaching. I think the biggest challenge for me is to actually go back through my tests to see where I have violated the rules of test making.

Next, I must address each question and thoughtfully construct it so that it makes sense to glean the information I want from my students to see if they actually have learned the material. But it does not stop there...I must carefully layout the structure of the questions so that visually they make sense.

It is overwhelming to think that I might have been actually harming the learning process in my testing. I do have comfort in knowing that some of my most important tests are "hands on" tests and the information is used daily.

I must admit that my tests violated some, if not, most of the general rules of test making. The information you have provided me are useful today, tomorrow and next year! Again, I have to thank you for providing me with an arsenal of information to produce high quality tests.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Teacher Made Test

I have learned so much about test making this semester. I really did not realize that there were so many rules involved with making test. The Evaluation Strategies for Teachers and Trainers has so many great tips for making test questions and making sure that you are able to formulate great questions for your students. I especially like the examples used to help guide you with the process. The next thing that I found very useful was the creating of the scorecard and checklist. This really helped me a lot especially with my Health care Science labs and projects. The checklist are easy to develop and a very consistent form of evaluation. Lastly, learning about grids was very interesting. I feel that grids will help me to better prepare for upcoming units and structure quizzes and test around the most important information I want to cover in class. There becomes a direct relationship between my objectives and assessment tools. Overall, I feel that this semester has enlightened me so much on a lot of things that I have been doing wrong in the test making area of teaching.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

What I have learned about teacher made test.

I have learned so much about testing this section of class. I learned that many of the teacher made tests that I have made and used were full of errors. I was making tests that confused my students and were not helping them retain the information. Things that I would never think about being wrong were. In doing this I will be much more careful about how I make a test. I want my students to succeed and in learning how to properly write a test will help them and not confuse them. When my student depend on me to do what ever it takes to help them , then that is what I must do. Now I can put one more thing to my repertoire of improving my skills for them.

What I have learned about teacher made test.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Tests

I have learned a lot about making tests this semester. I enjoyed learning the different small hints that would make the students think more for the answer. Everything from the size of fill-in the-blank lines to where to place those lines. Before this semester, I have created some test that now I know need to be revised from what was taught. I have really enjoyed learning the information NTI has presented to us.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Teacher Made Tests

Constantly I am amazed at how much there is to teaching. Developing tests as I have learned from NTI takes thought and time. The structure of the test is just as important as content. Using capital letters in order to help students choose a clear response was a light bulb moment for me. Something so simple can make a huge difference for some students. My understanding of how to write test items is much clearer after this section. As I look back on previous tests, many mistakes were made, especially using mostly tests from the state disk. My plan is to use a variety of test items on future tests. I found the modified true/false and the free response (without a word bank) test items interesting and I am looking forward to using them to prepare tests.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Teacher made test...

I have learned so much this semester about creating test. I now understand why we should have a good mix or a variety of at least three different types of questions included in a test. In the past I primarily gave multiple choice test to prepare my students for the state board exam. But I now see how placing a variety of test questions in one test will help meet the needs of all of my students. I really like the idea of saving a free/response short answer or essay question until the end of the test after the student has had time to warm up during the evaluation. I am also pleased to learn about modified true and false questions, and fill-in-the-blank assessments. In addition, by using all capital letters to identify responses will be helpful to clarify answers. I have acquired a lot of valuable information which I look forward to using in generating future test.

Testing All Teachers!

Creating tests have always been a test for me. I was surprised to find that I was doing alot of things correctly when creating tests in the past. I have never liked to print a test from a CD or website. That's simply because I don't trust anyone else's information. I tell my students the same thing. Also, I've always created the tests with the students' point of view in mind. Asking myself over and over again "will the student understand this?" Of course, I have been doing alot of things incorrectly. I will use the modified true/false testing method to ensure that students really do understand the subject matter. I will no longer place my multiple choice answer responses in a linear pattern, but will only place them in columns so that students can understand more clearly. Lastly, I will not copy information verbatim from the textbook.