Get Your Students Hired
I teach for two different institutions. one uses scantraons and the other does not. Scantrons reduces my grading time tremendously. The only issue is that I have is that I do not get an opportunity to see how the students answer in their own words.
Angela, Excellent to hear you will adopt these two grading techniques. Yes, you will find they significantly speed grading and take away nothing from the rigor of the exam question format.
Dr. Melissa Read
Andrew, What a great system! It sounds like you and some of your fellow faculty have streamlined grading together. That's wonderful to hear. Yes, being able to use bubble sheets can significantly speed the grading process.
Dr. Melissa Read
I was recently struggling with this very thing as I sought to challenge my students with producing results from a 10-week elective. Essays have been the standard method. This is a heavy burden for the students and the staff as the elective complements a heavy load in the core curriculum. This module has helped me think of some other approaches that might accomplish the same check on learning in a more productive manner for the students and for me.
The process at my school already in place is utilizing scantrons for all exams, which since being implemented has allowed for a tremendous saving of time that is better spent with the students needs. All of the course materials are standardized, so no need in changes of curriculum are necessary.
We have always used multiple choice and true/false questioning for our tests. The tests are developed by our curriculum department. Just recently we started using scantron. This makes it very easy for grading especially since the grades are then uploaded into an electronic grade book. Besides the obvious savings on time, accuracy of grading and data entry are a great benefit.
that's a great idea/tip! We don't have the bubble exams yet, however, in the future, if we get them, I'll remember this one. Thanks
If I give an essay or short answer exam (which I often do) I will definitely have my students highlight the answer within. Also I will have them write answers to multiple choice tests off to the side. I'm so glad to have learned about this technique as I have spent tons of time grading exams. Time management-happening in my life-WONDERFUL!!!
Agreed! These exams are much easier and quicker to grade, but I administer them infrequently. It seems as though students get more confused with multiple choice and it's impossible to award partial credit, which is important in math.
I know that most of my students have jobs and will work after class. I try to keep their homework as direct and to-the-point as I can so that it is clear and concise information. I also try to make sure that they know the parameters of what I expect them to turn in on the next day. I also make sure that they know what information will be on the exams as they take notes from my lectures.
Most of our exams are multiple choice because that is the format of the board exam students will take after graduation. It has the added benefit of being easy to grade.
The eaxams we give are given on bubble sheets and we use clear bubble sheets with holes where the correct answer is and we can just lay the clear sheet right on top. This makes grading exams super easy.
I know a lot of instructors that use Engrade to input their exams. I want to try that, but I think that the time that it takes to put the test into the computer system I could just print it off and grade it myself.
Denise, So true. I should note that we must balance ease of grading with the depth with which the grading formats probe. Some instructors dislike multiple choice because they feel this format is too easy for students. They prefer to throw in a few essay questions just to make sure students are challenged. Variety can work well.
Dr. Melissa Read
Currently we use multiple choice questions for the majority of our tests. In our Esthetic program we do use a lot of essay and short answer questions. I think it would be beneficial for us to re write our tests and change the essay questions according to the advice given in the online course.
For the grading process, the instructor has a choice the make an examen. It can be an open question or a multiple choice question. As a instructor the multiple choice teste is the esaier way to grade a teste.
Multiply choice answers are good idea to add to my test since the NCLX is adding questions that state pick all that apply it will get them ready for the big exam.
Maikel, Excellent to hear. It sounds like you have quite the efficient system. I should note that sometimes, the fastest grading method is not the best when it comes to testing learning. If that is at all a concern for you, you might try mixing testing formats.
Dr. Melissa Read
Olaolu, Multiple choice is indeed a fast way to grade and is often a great choice for instructors who want to save time. However, it is not always the best way to cover all course material or deeply test learning. Sometimes other formats, such as essay style, are a better approach for learning.
Dr. Melissa Read
The exam format I use is usually multiple choice, true or false, or short answer, therefore the method to grade these tests is easy and fast, we also use scantron where I work, making it even easier.
Maikel Garcia