testing
exams can be stressful for students. ensure a quiet work environment for everyone, and make sure to give another version of the exam as make-up.
Jessica,
My objective with exams is assessing learning, so prime emphasis is on meeting course objectives, skills, and knowledge a student should have grasped if they were attentive during class. The mechanics of testing are varied, and I try to make the testing environment as free from distractions as possible.
Barry Westling
In adition to that I would add that the assessment should reflect what was actually taught.
Tenika,
I maintain that every learning objective should be assessed in one way or another. There can additioal material assessed, but a course would be incomplete if some objectives were missed, or even worse, not covered at all.
Barry Westling
Exams are srtessful to many students. To help relieve the stress, I always give students the particular topics to study, and then I base my questions on those topics. I try not to give any surprise questions or include any topics outside the topics given. Some students get very angry when you do that. If I include an extra question, I will tell the students that it is for extra credit only.
Harold,
Unfortunately, testing is a necessary part of the instructional process. Short of giving answers, I believe most ways I know to assist students prepare are worth the effort.
Barry Westling
I agree. Its very stressful to students when assessments don't reflect what was taught.
Anthony,
The best guide is to base testing on course objectives.
Barry Westling
ON a retake I think you should give another version of test to see if they really learned the material .
Charles,
I agree. I guess the question is what's more important -- getting a grade, or measuring learning.
Barry Westling
