Classmarker (Quizzes)

Hi everyone,

I have just recently signed up for another site which provides users with a program to create online quizzes. This site is called Class Marker. It was a bit difficult at first trying to navigate and understand how to create a test to post a link to my blog. However, I persisted and located the icon where I created my own test. After creating the test using a variety of multiple choice and true or false answer options, I created a group entitled, ‘University Blog Group’. Below is the link to this test.

Take our online test

The user has many options on this site such as determining the pass mark, whether answers can be viewed at the conclusion of the test and the inclusion of feedback (ClassMarker, 2009).

The test that I created was designed for my Prep class. Recently, we have been studying the lifecycle of a butterfly and using the story, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ as the basis for this exploration. Although the problem that I have with using this site with younger students is that they are unable to read the questions, therefore, the Learning Manager would be required to read the questions to students and then wait for their response to place the mark in the correct box on the screen. In these Early Years, it would be beneficial as a whole class activity, or in small group rotations with adult supervision. As students progress through the school, this activity would become extremely helpful for teachers, as it would save on marking and correction. The only negative with this system is that teachers would be unable to provide feedback on students’ responses if the tests were created purely on true or false or multiple choice answers. As an alternative, the Learning Manager could create a few questions which require students to place a short response to the question posed.

Within the classroom, this style of testing can be determined by the Learning Manager to be used as either summative or formative assessment. Testing can be a positive conclusion to a unit that consolidates and links both their prior and newly constructed knowledge and skills throughout the unit of work. Testing also allows the Learning Manager to identify the areas that the students have an understanding of the content knowledge, or may need additional assistance. This mode of assessment can be viewed through the lens of a constructivist theorist’s perspective (Nichols, 2007). Students are required to apply content knowledge that has been constructed throughout the unit of work and recall these facts during the test.

I personally believe that testing can be a valuable tool, as long as the results are used by the Learning Manager to effectively adapt learning experiences. This online testing program would be positive within the classroom alongside another assessment piece, so that students have the opportunity to show their learning in a variety of contexts (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). Using online testing may also assist students to overcome anxieties with traditional testing methods.

As with all technological products, the Learning Manager needs to ensure that resources are well prepared and accessible for all students. However, I believe that this style of testing will gradually become an effective tool for both Learning Manager and student.

Melissa.

References

ClassMarker. (2009). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://www.classmarker.com/faq.php

Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory:. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Nichols, K. (2007). What is learning? Current knowledge and theories. In R. Smith, D. Lynch, & B. A. Knight, Learning Management: Transitioning teachers for national and international change (pp. 21-29). Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Education Australia.