Assessment Tools
Each quiz that I created is set up to have 4 questions per trial, but I have created 14 questions for the first quiz and 11 questions for the second quiz. I want students to have multiple attempts (I set it up for 3 tries), so I did not want to use all of the questions right away.
Each time the student attempts the quiz, they should get 4 random questions, so each quiz attempt will be different (maybe a little overlap). Students may take this quiz 3 times, and their highest score will be recorded. The quiz provides instant feedback and let the student know if they are on the right track or not. This ties in with 4th Principle of providing prompt feedback.
Ideally, once the student has completed the required reading, discussion and/or multimedia component for the section, then would then attempt the self check quiz.
A major challenge with this assessment tool is the time it takes to set it up. I have the questions digitally already, yet it still took over 3 hours to get the 25 questions entered with feedback and graphics. And according to Gibbs & Simpson, “examinations are very poor predictors of any subsequent performance, such as success at work.” (2005, page 7), so is the time worth it?. The quizzes are definitely time consuming, however once the questions are in the database, they are self marking and can be re-used as necessary (exported to another Moodle course, used as review or as part of a unit test). Since these are self checks, I would not be too worried about students cheating, as I would not give these quizzes a huge weighting. The majority of student marks would come from a unit project, some hand-in questions and the midterm and final exam (midterm and final are supervised exams written in our offices). Now I just wish I had about 4 students I could hire for data entry (guess I’d better find that information processing student who wants to work on a special project!!)
Gibbs, G. and Simpson, C. (2005). “Conditions under which assessment supports students’ learning.” Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Accessed July 7, 2009 from http://www.open.ac.uk/fast/pdfs/Gibbs%20and%20Simpson%202004-05.pdf
The TLT Group. “Seven Principles” Collection of Ideas for Teaching and Learning with Technology. Accessed July 7, 2009, from. http://www.tltgroup.org/Seven/Library_TOC.htm