Transcript Document
Testing to Evaluate Learning
New Faculty Orientation 2005
Dr. Diane Wink
Professor
School of Nursing
College of Health and Public
Affairs
©Diane Wink 2005
Welcome
To UCF
Why test??
Achievement of objectives of learning
measured with evaluation
Why test??
Achievement of objectives of learning
measured with evaluation
Why test??
Achievement of objectives of learning
measured with evaluation
Class activities must reflect
objectives and what will be tested
Class
Experience
and
Activities
Questions to ask
• Is there a better evaluative method to
determine student mastery and
application of this knowledge?
Questions to ask - Test
Alternatives
• Term paper
• Class activity
– Debate and bib
development
• Problem set completion
• Service Learning activity
• Course project
– Case Study
– Development of tool
• Non written evaluation
– Performance of the
competency being
developed
Questions to ask
• How will this test help me know if
learning objectives are being met?
• Is the test addressing essential
information?
• Does the test reflect the readings, class
activities and/or web discussion?
Questions to ask
• How many questions will it take to
determine if student has met
objectives/ has the knowledge?
Do a test blueprint!
Test Blueprint
Written Tests
•
•
•
•
Multiple Choice
True-False
Matching
Essay and Short answer essay
For all types of exams
• Have a colleague review your items
• Consider the possibility of cheating
– Alternative forms of tests
– Random seating
– 3X5 key points card
– New exams
– No cell phones
– Open book if on line
– In person for on line
Multiple Choice Items
• The stem should:
– Contain a self-contained question or
problem
– Present as much of the item's content as
possible
– Be precise - no extraneous information
Multiple Choice Items
• The stem should:
– Be independent of all other stems.
If part of a situation, say this clearly
Do not make answer dependent on getting a
prior item correct
– Be a positive rather than a negative
statement or question
Should not be a reading test!
Multiple Choice Items
• The answer choices should:
– Contain only one best or correct answer
– Be grammatically consistent with stem
– Be similar in complexity, detail, length and
plausibility
– Avoid "all of the above" or "none of the above"
Multiple Choice Items
• The answer choices should:
– All be plausible
– Be arranged logically
Alphabetical, numerical, length
– Randomly use each alternative position for
correct answers
– Contain action verbs from Bloom's
Taxonomy
Multiple Choice Items
• The answer choices should:
– Be on the same page as the stem
– Not have obscure or esoteric language
Sample Item- Poor
If all of the following heart valves are
defective but only one can be repaired,
which should it be?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Aortic
Mitral
Pulmonic
Tricuspid
Sample Item
Narrowing and tightness of which heart
valve is most likely to result in left
ventricular enlargement?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Aortic
Mitral
Pulmonic
Tricuspid
True False Items
• State the item as simply and clearly as
possible
• Keep statements equal in length
• Write each item so that it is clearly true
or false
True False Items
• Avoid qualifications such as "often" or
"usually"
• Randomize the true and false items
• Test important information and facts
Sample T/F Item
(Hard to score)
15. For each of the following, choose A if
true and B if false.
a. The major pump chamber of the heart is the
ventricle
b. Valves control blood flow into the atria
c. The pulmonary artery carries fully
oxygenated blood to the lungs
Sample T/F Item
(Easy to score)
For each of the following, choose A if true
and B if false.
15. The major pump chamber of the heart is
the left ventricle
16. Valves control blood flow into the atria
17. The pulmonary artery carries fully
oxygenated blood
Matching Items
• Put the basis of relationship for matching
in the directions
• Put the entire set of matching items on a
single page
• Arrange items in a systematic order
• Number premises on the left and letter the
responses on the right a-e
Allows computer grading
Matching Items
• Use a larger or smaller set of responses
and allow responses to be used more
than once or not at all
• Use homogeneous lists that concern the
same content
• Number each item separately to allow
computer grading
Sample Matching Item - Poor
31. Match each item in Column A with an historical event listed in Column B.
Events in Column B can be used more than once.
Hoover
a. Implemented emancipation proclamation
Roosevelt
b. Established the CCC
Lincoln
c. Major war ends
Clinton
d. Stock market crash
f. Was impeached
Sample Matching - Better
Match each of the presidents listed in Column A with the historical event
listed in Column B. Events in Column B can be used more than once.
Column A
31. Hoover
32. F.D. Roosevelt
33. Lincoln
34. Clinton
Column B
a. Reconstruction in
progress in US
b. Establishment of the
CCC
c. Major war ends
d. Stock market crashed
f. Impeached
Exam grading support at UCF
University testing
service support
for multiple
choice/true
false/matching
exams
WebCT
Disability Services
Grading issues
What if the item is bad??!!
Essay/Short Answer Items
What do they test?
Higher cognitive levels
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Not for simple recall of facts
Essay/Short Answer Items
• First ask
– Is item clearly written?
– If extended response needed, is it too
broad?
– If restricted response needed, would the
content be assessed better with an
objective item?
Sample Item
• Poor: List the components of a
persuasive letter to a government
official.
• Better: Write a letter to a government
official in support of or opposed to gun
control.
Sample Item
• Poor: What are the themes in War and
Peace?
• Better: Relate a theme in War and
Peace to world events in 2005
Grading essay/short essay items
Write out the answer
Does your answer
match the intent of
the item?
What problems did
you encounter in
answering the item?
Can the student
answer in the time
allowed?
Grading essay/short answer
items
• Analytical method
• Points for each essential element
• Holistic method
• Look for essential elements
• Evaluate overall quality of response
• Little feedback
Analytical Grading Method
Identify criteria for evaluating the content of the
response and assign points for each:
–
–
–
–
–
–
*
Essential elements required
Accuracy of content
Logical organization
Clarity
Depth and complexity of analysis
Use of references and specific citations *
Usually only used in formal papers
Analytical Grading Method
Decide on the extent to which writing ability
and use of style format will be included in the
scoring
–
–
–
–
–
*
Spelling
Grammar
Sentence structure
Writing style
APA citation and format *
Usually only used in formal papers
Holistic Grading Method
Sample “A” answer:
Covers all key points with citations to major resources.
Clearly written with analysis of problem clear and
persuasive. Minimal to no grammatical or spelling
errors.
Holistic Grading Method
Sample “B” answer:
Covers most key points with citations to most major
resources. Clearly written with good analysis of
problem. Few grammatical or spelling errors.
Sample “C” answer:
Covers few key points with few references to major
resources. Written poorly with limited analysis of
problem and a non persuasive argument Multiple
grammatical or spelling errors.
Holistic Grading Method
Sample “D” Answer:
Omits most key points with few/no citations to
resources. Writing difficult to follow with consistent
grammatical and spelling errors
Sample “F” answer:
Omits all key points, does not answer question
Grading essay and short answer
items
Before scoring
Read a random sample of papers
Get a sense of how students answered
Revise evaluation criteria if needed
Review grading criteria with any other graders -
practice!!!
Do key for commonly made comments (give to
students and all graders)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Great job. Shows excellent analysis of your main points
Great ideas but needed to be developed more
Unclear what you mean
Needs citation
Grading essay and short answer
items
Ideal grading technique:
– Score answers to one question at a time
for all students
– Read each answer twice
First for omissions of essential elements
Second reread and score
Grading essay and short answer
items
• Ideal grading technique:
– Cover up prior scores to items or record
them on a separate answer sheet
– Read papers anonymously; have students
use a code number
Grading essay and short answer
items
• If fatigued, stop and
rest!
Grading essay/short answer
items
• GTA
• Help from peers
Consider time for grading when
designing exams
Questions???
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Cognitive
Knowledge
Identification and recall of information
Comprehension
Organization and selection of facts and ideas
Application
Use of facts, rules principles
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Cognitive (continued)
Analysis
Separation of a whole into component parts
Synthesis
Combination of ideas to form a new whole
Evaluation
Development of opinions, judgments, or
decisions
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Affective Domain
Feeling tone
Emotion
Degree of acceptance or rejection
Psychomotor Domain
Resources Used
Oermann, M. (1999). Developing and scoring essay tests. Nurse Educator,
24(2), 29-32.
Tomey, A. (1999). Preparing a testing blueprint from levels of course
objectives. Nurse Educator, 24(4), 11-12.
Tomey, A. (1999). Selected response test items. Nurse Educator, 24(5), 910.
Tomey, A. (1999). Completion testing items. Nurse Educator, 24(6), 6-7.