MAILING LISTS

I agree that it is not easy to write multiple choice questions. I think that the important idea is that you get the big picture. Remember that this is a test to see if the students are prepared. It is different from the kind of test that you would give after lectures and other learning activities. At this point you want students to have a general understanding but not the complete kind of understanding you would be testing after learning activities.

I also think that what you want is the kind of question that will get good discussion and be able to be answered quickly. So the forced choice of a MCQ does that. But I have found that you can ask some other kinds of questions that meet these requirements. For example, if there are 5 steps to something or 3 main characters then ask a listing question. I sometimes take the headings of the chapter and make into listing questions. For example in my educational technology course in the chapter on using technology to support authentic learning the text has 5 characteristics of authentic learning with a section heading for each so I ask the students to list the 5 key elements of authentic learning. I have also used matching and fill in the blank. Since these don't work with the IF-AT forms I developed a way to use powerpoint presentations and answer card sets when I don't have computers to give immediate feedback.

Karen

Dr. Karen Milligan, Associate Professor
Box 71874
Carson-Newman College
Jefferson City, TN 37760
Phone: 865-471-3484
Fax: 865-471-3475