Testing and Grading

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"Testing and Grading"

• Saturday January 11, 2003
• 1045 am

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I Hate Grading

• Testing and Grading do not have to be
  adversarial.
• TG can be used as tools for building
  student/instructor rapport and maintaining a
  productive learning environment.
• Students are concerned with grades.
• Instructors can build upon this interest to
  encouraging learning and foster communication.

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T G Nightmares!!!!!

• perceived unfairness of grading.
• perceived inconsistencies or favoritism in
  grading.
• misunderstood, or poorly understood grading
  standards.
• unclear assignments, test questions etc.
• Scary Endings can undermine learning environment
  by eliciting resentment, frustration, and
  resignation to failure.

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A list of things you may want to consider

• Communicating What is Important to Learn
• Creating Valid Assessment Tools
• Providing Feedback on Progress
• Empowering Students with Opportunities to
  Communicate

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Communicating What is Important to Learn

• A Clear Rubric is essential.
• Compartmentalize grading within clearly specified
  sections.

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Sample Rubric

• You can print this out for students, include it
  with the returned exam, or include it on a
  mid-semester report etc.

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What is Important to Learn

• Make grading standards explicit.
• Process Vs. Results

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Process Vs. Results

• Stressing Precision in student work.
• Can make grading easier and be part of the
  lesson, as long as an instructor allows time for
  students to check answers.
• Stressing Process Requires Making it Visible
• Can involve considerable prep work before the
  assignment is even handed out. Often requires
  going through the assignment oneself to sketch
  out each step.

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Making Process Visible

• Requiring a log of steps taken and why.
• Sometimes combining this with software
  capabilities is useful.
• In SPSS or SAS requesting the Log of what was
  done.
• In Word, utilizing Track Changes, Print Changes,
  and Accept Changes for tasks involving editing of
  each others work.
• In Excel, requiring formulas.

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Example Microsoft Word

• Tools, Track Changes
• This will mark all modifications made by the PC
  User.
• Tools, Options, track Changes allows for
  modifications.
• To Accept changes just click on Accept Changes
  Button and either choose to accept all or select
  by editor or individual comment.

The Following Tools will Appear
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Tracked Changes in Word
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Example Excel

• Request Calculations

• While grading the final answers is possible,
  there is no way to check process or check for
  copied work.

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Making Process Visible

• One can specifically provide the following
  instructions.
• In Excel, go to TOOLS, OPTIONS, VIEW, FORMULAS

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Select View Formulas
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• To grade these it is also necessary to know what
  A, B, and D as well as the numbers, are.
• It is also necessary to request that students go
  to FILE,PAGE SETUP, SHEET and then select both
  Gridlines and Row and Column Headings.

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Creating Valid Assessment Tools

• Goal a tool that will measure learning.
• Attaining the Goal
• Avoiding surprises and test anxiety.
• Beginning with easy questions.
• Assuring there is only one correct answer.
• Taking care to ask only one question at a time.

Double Barreled Question True or False Is
Niagara falls a national landmark that is
treasured by more than one nation? Is Niagara
falls a national landmark? Is Niagara falls
treasured by more than one nation?
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Tips For Test Development

• Before writing the exam, -be clear on exactly
  what ideas, concepts you want to test. (nothing
  new) Share these ideas with students.
• Take the test ahead of time, sober (let it
  sit).
• Make both instructions and partial credit
  decisions known to students ahead of time. i.e.
  calculators allowed? study sheets?
• Plan plenty of time for students to take the
  test.
• Plan how you will grade answers.

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If You are Stuck

• Using Test Bank for Ideas.
• Asking others who have taught the class for
  ideas.
• Incorporating Possible test question creation
  into class assignments.
• This can kill two birds with one stone if used as
  a homework assignment to encourage reading of
  assigned texts. (May have students cite the
  source of their questions and answer choices).
• It can also help students think in terms of
  studying for an exam while reading.

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Post-Exam

• Going over the exam in class is a teachable
  moment.
• Having students write out why they are contesting
  grades leads to more informed discussion and less
  unfounded claims.
• Avoiding grading decisions in front of the class
  Ill consider that and get back to you.
• Correcting for poor assessment tools.

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Curving a Test
In excel, use the dollar sign () before the cell
letter and number to lock the denominator in
place. Then drag the formula down the column.
Changing the denominator provides the entire
class with a curve.
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Providing Feedback on Progress

• Scheduling exams and other assignments so that
  you will be able to give prompt feedback and
  evaluations.
• Scheduling one-on-one meetings with students.
• Stressing office hour availability.
• Offering mid-semester feedback forms.

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Mid-Semester Feedback Mail Merge

• 1. Prepare a Spreadsheet with Headings.
• 2.Type a Form in Microsoft Word
• 3.Word Tools, Letters Mailings, Mail Merge
  Wizard, Use an Existing List, Browse,( find your
  file, pick sheet one), Write Your Letter, (select
  a spot on the word document), More items, (select
  the value you want there), Insert, Close.
• 4. Once you have inserted all the items you want
  Preview your letter, Complete the merge, Edit
  Individual Letters, All.
• 5. The Output is a file with an individualized
  grade report for each student

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Providing Students with Opportunities to
Communicate

• Incorporating a Gripe Sheet at the end of each
  exam.
• Anonymous feedback How was the test?
• Individualized considerations, re-written
  questions etc.
• Emphasizing office hours and one on one meetings.
• Setting up an anonymous feedback web site.
• Using Mid-Semester TA Program evaluations
  (general) or self-made (more specific).
• Collecting mid-semester self-evals for students.

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Gripe Sheet
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Points to Remember

• Testing Grading takes a good deal of
  forethought and a bit of trial and error.
• Preparation effort is worth while
• Students appreciate it.
• Your grading will be easier.
• Learning will be facilitated.

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• Center For Support of Teaching and Learning
• http//cstl.syr.edu/
• Excel Grade Books Workshop
• Thursday Jan. 16, 2003 4pm Eggers Hall Room 030
• fmridzi_at_mailbox.syr.edu