WHY WE TEST STUDENTS
* Evaluate prior learning (Diagnostic)
* Provide feedback (Formative)
* Provide reinforcement (Formative)
* Assign grades (Summative)
* Certify competence (Summative)
MAJOR FUNCTIONS INVOLVED
* Establish criteria (Establish objectives)
* Match criteria with performance (Grading)
* Evaluate Results (Item Analysis)
A GOOD TEST WILL
* Measure objectives of the course
* Possess objectivity and reliability
* Have balanced coverage
* Be efficient and economical
* Be reasonable in time and difficulty
FEATURES OF A GOOD TEST
* Title, course number & date for identification
* Place for student's name (section no. & score optional)
* Time to be allowed
* Grading weight for each item type
* Item types grouped together
TWO MAJOR TYPES OF TEST ITEMS
* Discussion
* Essay
* Short Answer
* Oral
* Multiple choice
* Matching
* True-False
* Completion
ADVANTAGES OF OPEN QUESTIONS
* Encourages creativity / diversity
* Provides feedback to instructor
* Provides feedback to students
* Diagnosis of learning difficulties
* Requires less time for construction
DISADVANTAGES OF OPEN QUESTIONS
* Possess lower efficiency and economy
* Criteria for grading difficult to establish, enforce, defend
* Requires time for grading
* Lower objectivity and reliability
EXAMPLE OF POOR QUESTION
* What is photosynthesis?
EXAMPLE OF BETTER QUESTION
* Discuss three ways photosynthesis differs from respiration.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTING OPEN QUESTIONS
* Establish criteria for grading in advance
* Include clear directions
* Be specific
* Try pretesting
LEVELS OF TESTING
* knowledge
* comprehension
* application
* analysis
* synthesis
* evaluation
KNOWLEDGE LEVEL BEHAVIORS
* name
* list
* define
* describe
* identify
* select
* state
COMPREHENSION AND APPLICATION BEHAVIORS
* discuss
* compare
* contrast
* organize
* relate
* explain
* outline
ANALYSIS, SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION
* classify
* interpret
* construct
* predict
* formulate
* verify
* judge
ADVANTAGES OF CLOSED QUESTIONS
* Are efficient and economical
* Possess greater objectivity and reliability
* Require less time to grade
* May stimulate problem solving
DISADVANTAGES OF CLOSED QUESTIONS
* Require additional time and skill for construction
* May promote guessing
* May influence student preparation
* Offers unfair advantage to students with prior knowledge
* Favors recall of factual information
CONSTRUCTING MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS
* Develop clear, complete stem
* Stem can be statement or question
POOR EXAMPLE OF STEM
An ion
a. is any charged particle
b. is formed when any substance dissolves in water
c. is formed when atoms gain or lose electrons
d. is present only in solutions which are being electrolyzed
e. results only when atoms gain electrons
GOOD EXAMPLE OF STEM
Ions of calcium differ from atoms of calcium in all of the following ways except:
a. their ease of reduction
b. their ease of oxidation
c. their reactivity with water
d. their nuclear charge
e. the number of extranuclear electrons
EXAMPLE OF POOR STEM
Pascal's principle
a. is applied to hydraulic brakes.
b. explains the action of thermostats.
c. describes the behavior of rockets.
d. all of the above.
EXAMPLE OF A BETTER STEM
Pascal's principle is applied in which of the following systems?
a. hydraulic brakes
b. thermostats
c. rockets
OPTIONS SHOULD BE
* Concise
* Same tense
* Parallel and related
* All plausible to naive learner
* One should be clearly the best
OPTIONS SHOULD NOT INCLUDE
* Repetition of extra words
* Determines (all, never, always)
* Clues
* Inconsistent tenses
* Over use of "all of the above" & "none of the above"
EXAMPLE OF IMPORTANCE OF OPTIONS AND DISTRACTORS
The city in the United States with the largest population is
a. air
b. mills
c. China
d. New York
e. wheat
The city in the United States with the largest population is
a. London
b. Paris
c. Rome
d. New York
e. Tokyo
The city in the United States with the largest population is
a. Atlantic City
b. Milwaukee
c. New York
e. Reno
f. San Antonio
The city in the United States with the largest population is
a. Chicago
b. Dallas
c. Los Angeles
d. New York City
e. Washington, DC
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Center for Teaching & Learning 