Have you ever felt like your total academic experience is just one long test? Do you study materials that you are interested in learning about? Or do you simply study so you can pass the next test - and the next test - and the next test? Are you looking forward to graduation just so you don't have to take any more tests? Have you ever considered why testing is important?
This module provides information about testing, assessment, and evaluation. As you work through the materials you will find examples of different types of assessments as well as what they are intended to measure, and strategies for studying for and completing them successfully. You will also learn skills that will help you with your professional career by assisting you in becoming a life-long learner.
The main goal of this module is for you to learn how to get the most out of assessment, evaluation, and testing opportunities. After finishing this module you should be able to:
- Understand that there are differences between tests, assessments, and evaluations
- Determine if you have confidence in your ability to learn
- Understand why developing life-long learning skills is important to your professional success
- Explain why testing, assessing, and evaluating your progress and understanding is important to both your academic career and your professional career
- Explain different types of assessments and what they measure
- Apply appropriate study strategies to the different types of assessments
- Use electronic testing tools to improve your study and assessment skills
- Learn strategies to use when completing electronic tests and assessments
- Apply appropriate strategies for coping with assessment challenges
- Identify academic integrity issues associated with assessment
- Differences between testing, assessment, and evaluation. (definitions of test/quiz, assessment and evaluation and the importance of assessment)
- What you should know prior to a test? (things you should find out from your instructor for better test preparation)
- Different types of assessments. (tips for preparing for and taking various forms of assessments, including open book exams, interviews and oral exams, math exams, research papers, and class projects)
- Different types of questions. (tips for preparing for and taking various types of exam questions, including multiple-choice, true-false, essays, short-answer, fill-in-blank, matching)
- Informal classroom assessment. (purposes of different informal classroom assessments, including concept mapping, minute papers, discussion boards/blogs/wikis)
- Alternative assessments. (introduction of portfolio assessment and case studies)
- Electronic testing. (introduction of Clicker, eTesting Center and ANGEL quizzing)
- General tips for preparing to take tests and quizzes. (additional tips for test preparation, including organizing notes and electronic materials)
- Academic integrity. (the importance of academic integrity)
The materials for the iStudy for Success modules were originally developed at thethe Jack P. Royer Center for Learning and Academic Technologies.
Additional materials were developed and assistance was provided by the University Learning Centers (ULC), University Park.
The ANGEL version of the modules is being administered by TLT. For more information about iStudy for Success modules, please contact tlt@psu.edu.
The Pennsylvania State University ©2004 All rights reserved. Please read the entire license agreement before distributing the modules, and before modifying and sharing the content of the modules. This statement MUST accompany this module and all derivative works.