7 Testing
We have created a separate magazine for online tests. In that magazine you will find information about making responsible decisions around changing the test formats and test administration formats. And we offer guidelines and tips per test format: what are the alternatives for taking your test online? Take a look at the magazine ‘Remote testing’. In this chapter of the magazine ‘Distance education’ we focus on opportunities for formative testing.
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Formative testing
The aim of formative testing is to give the student insight into their strengths and weaknesses, thus giving them insight into where they stand in relation to the required competencies or learning objectives. It goes without saying that you will check during your lessons and supervision whether your students can still keep up, but that is not the same as formative testing. Formative testing focuses on mapping development over the long term and it aims at a broader spectrum. Below you will find a number of ways in which you can give formative testing. Before you get started, take a look at the tips below.
Useful tips & tricks
- Determine in advance which competencies or learning outcomes will demonstrate growth.
- Give students the format with which you are going to measure that growth in advance.
- If necessary, let students (partly) determine for themselves how they can demonstrate growth.
- Give students (a choice of) different types of learning activities, for example, not everyone is equally good at writing.
- Make use of peer-to-peer review, the students broaden their view by seeing what others are doing and it saves you time as a lecturer.