Creating the quiz in the Moodle Platform was fairly straightforward despite a few built in limitations. If I were to create a wish list one of the items would be to extend the short answer questions so that respondents could add more details if they wish. It would be helpful if the short answer questions could be marked (graded) manually just as the essay style questions are.
The essay questions allow the respondents to reflect more thoroughly on their learning. In fact, “some advantages of open-ended questions include self-expression and emotional revelation as thought-provoking experiences.” (Pate, 2012). Furthermore, “open ended questions can lead to deeper understanding. Instructors should use these effectively in order to help extend conversations and provide feedback. This is crucial in providing opportunities to expand students’ ideas in more rich and elaborated ways.” (Wasik, Hindman, 2013) That being said, the mix of questions that are included in the Moodle platform provide for multiple ways of “showing what you know”. As Pate notes, “Closed-ended questions…are useful tools for retrieving learned information and for concise confirmation of facts.” (Pate, 2012)
I was always under the assumption that multiple choice questions were a limited way to check for understanding and did not show deeper learning. After doing some research I began to change my mind about these types of questions and I now see the value of including them in a quiz. “Multiple Choice are not just used for a summative check of knowledge and skills. The instructor can use these to help build understanding and foster engagement.” (Barlow, Marolt 2012). Multiple choice answers can be a discussion point where students can be engaged in defending or refuting a choice. In fact, “engaging in disagreements can help lead to understanding.” (Barlow, Marolt 2012)
Within the course I am designing I am not sure that the quiz that my students take needs to be graded. Since the course I am creating is one of a series of courses in which the students have to complete the units of study in order to get a “credit” towards earning a free laptop or I-Pad I’m not sure if it would be prudent to have a quiz. The courses are optional and so the participants are voluntarily taking the course because they WANT to learn how to use technology in their classrooms. I might use the quiz as a “check for understanding” and as a way to gain an understanding of what to develop more clearly within the course or to understand what concepts the participants need to further develop. It could also be used as a springboard for discussion as I noted earlier.
References:
Barlow, A.T., Marolt, A.M. (2012) Effective use of multiple-choice items in the mathematics classroom. Middle School Journal, vol. 43 (Issue 3), p. 50-55.
Pate, R.S. (2011/2012). Open versus closed questions: what constitutes a good question? CEDER Yearbook, p. 29-39.
Wasik, B.A., Hindman, A.H. (2013). Realizing the promise of open-ended questions. Reading Teacher, Volume 67 (Issue 4), p.302-311.