Member-only story

Learning and Assessing with Multiple Choice Questions in College Classrooms

Fletcher Mitchell

·4.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Jay Parkes

6 min read

926 View Claps

73 Respond

Save

Listen

Learning and Assessing with Multiple-Choice Questions in College Classrooms

by Jay Parkes

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3322 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	143 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are a widely used assessment tool in college classrooms. They are relatively easy to administer and score, and they can cover a wide range of content. However, the use of MCQs has also been criticized, with some educators arguing that they encourage students to memorize facts rather than develop critical thinking skills.

This article will explore the benefits and limitations of MCQs, provide guidelines for their design and use, and discuss alternative assessment methods that can complement MCQs.

Benefits of MCQs

MCQs have a number of benefits, including:

They are easy to administer and score. MCQs can be administered in a variety of ways, including on paper, online, or through a computer-based testing system. They are also relatively easy to score, which can save instructors time.
They can cover a wide range of content. MCQs can be used to assess a variety of learning outcomes, including knowledge, comprehension, application, and analysis.
They can be used to provide immediate feedback. MCQs can be used to provide immediate feedback to students, which can help them identify areas where they need additional support.
They can be used to compare students' performance over time. MCQs can be used to track students' progress over time, which can help instructors identify students who are struggling and provide appropriate support.

Limitations of MCQs

MCQs also have a number of limitations, including:

They can encourage students to memorize facts rather than develop critical thinking skills. MCQs often focus on lower-level learning outcomes, such as knowledge and comprehension. This can lead students to focus on memorizing facts rather than developing critical thinking skills.
They can be biased against certain groups of students. MCQs can be biased against students from certain cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds. This is because MCQs often rely on cultural knowledge or assumptions that may not be shared by all students.
They can be difficult to write well. Writing good MCQs is a challenging task. MCQs should be clear, concise, and unambiguous. They should also be free of bias and should cover a range of learning outcomes.

Guidelines for the Design and Use of MCQs

To maximize the benefits of MCQs and minimize their limitations, it is important to follow some basic guidelines for their design and use.

Design

MCQs should be clear, concise, and unambiguous. Students should be able to understand what is being asked without any confusion.
MCQs should be free of bias. MCQs should not favor one group of students over another.
MCQs should cover a range of learning outcomes. MCQs should not only focus on lower-level learning outcomes, such as knowledge and comprehension. They should also assess higher-level learning outcomes, such as application and analysis.

Use

MCQs should be used in conjunction with other assessment methods. MCQs should not be the only assessment method used in a college classroom. They should be used in conjunction with other methods, such as essays, projects, and presentations.
MCQs should be used to provide feedback to students. MCQs can be used to provide immediate feedback to students, which can help them identify areas where they need additional support.
MCQs should be used to compare students' performance over time. MCQs can be used to track students' progress over time, which can help instructors identify students who are struggling and provide appropriate support.

Alternative Assessment Methods

While MCQs can be a useful assessment tool, they are not the only option. There are a number of alternative assessment methods that can be used to complement MCQs.

Some examples of alternative assessment methods include:

Essays
Projects
Presentations
Portfolios
Peer assessment

Each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best method for a particular class will depend on the learning objectives and the students' needs.

MCQs can be a useful assessment tool in college classrooms, but they also have some limitations. It is important to follow some basic guidelines for their design and use to maximize their benefits and minimize their limitations. In addition, MCQs should be used in conjunction with other assessment methods to provide a comprehensive and accurate assessment of student learning.

Learning and Assessing with Multiple-Choice Questions in College Classrooms

by Jay Parkes

5 out of 5