HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education TASK I: Construct an essay question

Course studied: History of Microbiology

Learning outcome: Students should be able to: Analyze Louis Pasteur experiment called as The Swan Flask and the impacts of his experiment towards to medical development.

This learning outcome is well evaluated by an essay question because essay allowed students to explain, describe, analyze and organize they understanding about the topic that are asked in more than one sentence. Students can analyse and categorize every components in The Swan Flask by Louis Pasteur in they own words and determine how all of this components are linked to each other until Louis Pasteur can conclude his result and give impact towards medical development.

Explanation from journal article/ experts references text:

By Tuckmen, Bruce W., 1994

By Steel, Craig W., 1997 When objectives require students to apply knowledge, analyze data or situations, synthesize, or evaluate, the essay can be an effective test. Because essays address higher-level cognitive processes, you can individually direct students in their thought processes.

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education Criteria in constructing my essays are: Direct specific question This is important because by giving a general question it will confuse the students in answering the question such as Discuss Biology. This topic is so broad to be discussed by the students in the examination. Specific question can be a guideline for the teachers in reaching the learning outcome and also the students in answering the question. The possibility for the students to answer the question out of the context is low.

Require considerable thought in answering the question. One of essay criteria is to assess the students ability to elaborate their knowledge by recall, organize, select, included ideas and put it in writing. By this, the teachers can vision the students understanding about the topic.

Encourage student to response in more than one sentence through analyzing or judgment. This is because essay needs student to construct response which is to let the students to demonstrate their reasoning in they own words and understanding. Allowing student to explain on how they reach their conclusion in answering the essay question.

Provide marks at the end of the question. This is important because based on the marks the students know many information they should answer and write down.

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education Explanation from journal article/ experts references text:

By Stalnaker, 1951 An essay question is "...a test item which requires a response composed by the examinee, usually in the form of one or more sentences, of a nature that no single response or pattern of responses can be listed as correct, and the accuracy and quality of which can be judged subjectively only by one skilled or informed in the subject."

By Bishop, Philip.E, 1990

By Williams, Jane M., 1991

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR MICROBIOLOGY PAPER

Time: 45 minutes Marks: 30 marks Class: Diploma / STPM Level 1. Louis Pasteur is a microbiology researcher that known for his experiment called The Swan Flask. By this, he had presented new theory and provides a huge impact on medical development.

a) Analyse the experiment and describe why it had been done. Clearly state how his experiment had given a huge impact towards to the medical world. ............................................ [30] 4

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education TASK II: Prepare a marking scheme.

Analytical Method.

Marking an essay is an unreliable activity because there is good possibility for us to give different marks at the same papers that we read more than one time in different time. We all like to think we are exceptions, but study after study of well meaning and conscientious teachers show that essay grading is unreliable (Ebel, 1972; McKeachie, 1986; White, 1985). So, in order to improve our grading, marking scheme is created.

Marking scheme for this question is using analytical method. This method is always use in large-scale public examination such as SPM/STPM. Marking scheme using this method consist a list of major elements that considered as the ideal answer. By this, the examiners can produces results that consistent.

Marks are allocated for describing each of the five factors. Each factor has different marks based on the contents. Marks will be given if the students wrote the keywords as showed in the marking scheme. One mark will be given for one keyword. As for criteria number six, the examiners have to judge the students writing skills, whether their writing are clear to be understand and on how they connect one answer to another and made they conclusion.

Explanation from journal article/ experts references text:

By Bishop, Philip E., 1990 Grading can be done more quickly and consistently when the grader can expect an organizational scheme

By Williams, Jane M., 1991 Analytic scoring identifies the essential points of the correct response and scores each students response accordingly.

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education No 1. Reason the experiment is done: Disapprove the Spontaneous Generation Theory. Theory introduce by Aristotle. Believes that inanimate object can create living organisms when some vital force is given. 2. Experiment Procedure: 3. Fermented juice place in flask and sterile. Neck of the flask is drown out as thin tube (resemble swans neck) by heating it up. End of the neck was sealed. 1 2 3 1 1 3 Answers Marks

Result of the experiment: Contents remain unchanged, as long as it still sealed. Contents remain unchanged even the seal is open because the dust in the air was trapped on the wet walls of the neck. Contents changed when the flask was tipped which allow the sterile liquid to touch the contaminated walls and returned back to the broth. 4 2 3

4.

Conclusion: Showing that air alone cannot trigger growth of microorganisms. He introduces the Germ Theory which is known as the foundation theory in medical world. Theory that prove that microbes can cause disease. By this, hospital/medical had changed their practices to minimize the spread of disease by microbes. Also introduce virology. 1 1 2 2

5.

Contribution to medical world: 2

6.

Writing skills Quality of writing Organize contents TOTAL MARKS 1 1 30

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education TASK III: Administer the essay question as a test item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE STUDENTS

The students involve in this test are full-time nursing student for diploma level of education. There are 35 students sitting for this test (27 female; 8 male). These students are in their second years. They have learned this subject for one semester in first year. This test is scheduled at 8.00 am on 26 June 2012.

PROCEDURE IN ADMINISTERING THIS TEST

1. Before student arrives Keep the examination in safe and secure place. For this test, only one exam invigilator needed.

2. The examination room The room must be quiet. Light and air-conditioner must be at comfortable temperature. The clock is checked. Have enough table and chair for the students.

3. Students arrival Students are lining up in front of the exam room, 10 minutes before examination started. Verify the students ID card. The exam invigilator will check students pockets. Hand phones are not allowed inside the exam room. Personal items should be put at secure place.

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education 4. Begin the test Before giving out the test, the exam invigilator read out the direction (time allocated, wrote on paper given, can ask for more papers etc.) to answer the question. Then, question is given to each student and they do not given extra time to answer the test.

5. During the test The exam invigilators check any absenteeism while the student answering the test. The exam invigilators should walk around the examination room every 15 minutes and do not standing to close with the student because it might disturb the student concentration. Announce to the students when the examination time is 5 minutes left.

6. The end of the test Announce to end test and instruct the students to stop writing. Collect the test paper. Sealed the test paper in envelope. Dismiss.

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education EXPERIENCE OF MARKING THE ANSWER SCRIPTS

The test papers are collected according to the students name list. The purpose of this is to make the examiners easy to key in the marks of the student. But theres no name at the test paper, only ID number of students. This is to avoid bias when examiners correcting the papers. For marking this paper, I read and compare the model answer with the students answer. From marking these test papers, I found out that students are using different type of words in describing their answer but same meaning with the model answers. In this situation, I still gave the students full marks and will only give partial mark when they do not give clear answers.

I also did add up some new key point at my model answer because some of the students had given answers that is correct but not available in my marking scheme. From this, I could say that my marking scheme need some adjustment.

I try to finish up the marking in the same time but by using analytical marking scheme, I have to read the questions and answer many times and thiss cost me a lot of time to finish it. Then, I have two sessions for marking the test (Firstly; in the afternoon after the test, secondly; in the morning the day after the test).

As for the quality of the essay question, I could say that my question had assess my students understanding about Louis Pasteur contributions in medical world and can related his work with the development of the microbiology and medical world.

HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education

REFERENCES:

1. Ornstein, A.C,(1992). Essay tests: Use, Development and Grading. Clearing House, Vol.65.

2. Reiner, C.M., Bothell, T.W., Sudweeks, R.R., Wood B. (2002). How to Prepare Effective Essay Questions: Guidelines for University Faculty. www.uwgb.edu

3. Bishop, P.E. (1990). Defining Expectations: The Essay Test made Simpler.

4. Tuckman, B.W.(1994). Tips for Using Essay Tests. Education Digest.

5. Steele, C.W.(1997). Essay- well worth the effort. College Teaching. 6. Williams, J.M.(1991).Writing Quality Teacher Made Tests : A handbook for Teachers. 7. Dodia, D.R.(2012). Innovative Strategies for Examination Reforms. Indian Stream Research Journal.

8. Edgar, S. (1966). An introduction to Educational Psychology. Great Britain.

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HMEF 5053 : Measurement and Evaluation in Education

APPENDICES

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