Facilitator
Dr. Marc Muñiz, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University
Description
Summative assessment remains a complex, and at times contentious, necessity in learning environments at all levels. Fortunately, decades of research in cognitive science, psychology, and education research (discipline based and general) affords us the opportunity to take evidence-based approaches to writing effective multiple choice (also known as “selected-response”) assessments. Selected response items are, especially in large enrollment courses, often the most practical summative assessment solution. Despite their limitations, one can still obtain valid and reliable measures of student understanding using such items. One must approach the writing of selected response questions from an equitable, valid, and reliable perspective. As such, this workshop aims to 1). inform participants about some of the key research-informed principles of writing valid, reliable, and equitable multiple choice items, 2). have participants critique existing multiple-choice assessments, and 3). have participants construct and/or revise their own multiple choice assessment items.
Resources
- Siegel, M. A. Striving for Equitable Classroom Assessments for Linguistic Minorities: Strategies for and Effects of Revising Life Science Items. J. Res. Sci. Teach. 2007, 44, 864-881.
- Butler, A. C. Multiple-Choice Testing in Education: Are the Best Practices for Assessment Also Good for Learning? J. Appl. Res. Mem. Cogn. 2018, 7, 323-331.
- Breakall, J.; Randles, C.; Tasker, R. (2019) Development and use of a multiple-choice item writing flaws evaluation instrument in the context of general chemistry. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 20, 369-382.
- Towns, M. H. (2014) Guide To Developing High-Quality, Reliable, and Valid Multiple-Choice Assessments, J Chem. Educ., 91 (9), 1426-1431; DOI: 10.1021/ed500076x
- Dell, K. A., & Wantuch, G. A. (2017). How-to-guide for writing multiple choice questions for the pharmacy instructor. Curr. Pharm. Teach. Learn., 9(1), 137-144. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2016.08.036
- Other resources
- UNC Pharmacy: GUIDELINES TO WRITNG MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (adapted from the National Board of Medical Examiners guidelines) https://pharmacy.unc.edu/files/2015/06/MCQ-guidelines-for-Workshop.pdf
Offered
November 15, 2019; 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm; SRN 330