Written tests can and should empower students!
“We need to learn to measure what is important, not to
treat what we can measure as important.”
~Attributed to Steve McNamara

Faculty Development Workshop Purpose and Focus

1. To develop the expertise (knowledge, skills. and dispositions) needed to create and administer effective written tests
2. To develop skills and attitudes for grading and returning tests
3. To help students sharpen their test-taking skills
4. To develop a personal philosophy of written tests
5. To use tests as learning experiences.

Overview

Depending upon why and how written tests are constructed, administered, graded, and returned, they can be either a positive or negative learning experience for students and instructors.

Top 23 Learning Objectives

By successfully completing this workshop, participants should be able to demonstrate their expertise in crafting a written test that serves as an effective assessment tool. This will be evident as participants:

1. Compare and contrast reasons for administering various types of written tests.
2. Debate the usefulness of written tests for students and instructors.
3. Determine criteria for selecting testing items.
4. Summarize reasons for aligning test questions with learning objectives.
5. Explain ways to avoid ambiguous test questions.
6. Discuss strategies that help clarify expected answers, such as to operationalize terms.
7. Predict how the first few test questions will impact students.
8. Discuss steps to avoid when creating a test.
9. Debate strategies for preparing students to take a test.
10. Debate the pros and cons of study sheets and review sessions.
11. Debate pros and cons of flash cards and digital flash card websites.
12. Create various levels of test questions utilizing Bloom’s Taxonomy.
13. Share strategies for administering a test.
14. Discuss fairness in creating and grading a written test.
15. Explore types of feedback helpful while grading and returning test papers.
16. Propose steps to avoid when returning graded tests.
17. Debate pros and cons of permitting absent students to make up a missed test.
18. Discuss test follow-ups.
19. Explore ways to use a test as a learning experience.
20. Use a guide sheet to develop a personal philosophy of written tests.
21. Create tips for students to consider prior to taking a test.
22. Create tips for students to consider while taking a test.
23. Create tips for students to consider after taking a test.

Handouts

Titles

1. Nomenclature:  Written Test Definitions
2. Tips for Creating an Original Philosophy of Testing
3. Best Practices for Creating Effective Written Tests
4. Best Practices for Creating Effective Essay Questions
5. Best Practices for Creating Effective True or False Questions
6. Best Practices for Creating Multiple Choice Questions
7. Best Practices for Polishing Test-Taking Skills
8. Test Standards Checklist
9. Bloom’s Taxonomy
10. Quotations: Written Tests
11. References and Resources:  Written Tests
12. Webliography:  Written Tests Internet Resources

This faculty development workshop is available to serve as
Professional Development Hours.

Each participant, who successfully completes this
faculty development workshop,
will be awarded a “Certificate of Completion”.

Click to Contact Dr. Nesnick
or
E-mail:  Victoria@VictoriaNesnick.com
or
Phone:  (631) 889-2178