Re: [MATHEDCC] Multiple Choice--Pros and Con

Alynn Rifkin (arifkin@CYBERCOMM.NET)
Thu, 31 Jul 1997 10:13:13 -0400

I've rarely used multiple choice in calculus except for finals in June (as
they are due graded and entered the next morning!). Then (on finals) I mix
about 60% pure mc with 40 %essays where I check the work. I've found that
my kids *think* they want mc until they realize that there is no partial
credit for a small error that causes a wrong answer. I always do partial
credit for regular tests, but that hurts them when they take the AP or
another mc test as they are used to getting a wrong answer and getting
credit for good solid work.

I tried the approach someone here mentioned about mc with justification. I
liked it but sometimes I got a justification I couldn't figure out how to
grade (like - "it's the best of the answers" or "the others don't work").
If I get the full work I can say "OK - half credit." However, after
teaching for 29 years and avoiding mc on normal tests, I plan to add them
in this year with full justification required. The mc will be so they can
see if their answers are possible (after I explain how a good test is
written - most possible errors factored in). I also plan to have
mini-quizzes on doing certain things without notes or calculators. This,
after years of having all calc tests allowing a small student-made formula
sheet and anything in the graphing calculator, because I've had students
comment that I should have made them memorize certain formulas and routines
as they would have done certain things better. It's a new year and there's
always something new to try. MC and no-formula-quizzes will be my new
thing :)

CoolMath2@AOL.COM wrote:
>In a message dated 97-07-30 19:24:51 EDT, waggoner@STORM.SIMPSON.EDU (Murphy
>Waggoner) writes:
>
><< I guess my main point is that I don't get to know the students well enough
> to really help them if all I give are MC exams. The correlation is good
> between MC and FR for me and so I don't mind giving a MC for the final
> because I have no chance to provide feedback to the students after the
> final anyway. >>
>
>The other concern I have is that students who have only taken MC exams often
>do not know how to write out a math problem properly -- Breaking rules along
>the way and an inappropriate use of notations.
>
>Karen
>Orange Coast College
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Alynn Rifkin mailto:arifkin@iname.com
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