Test Construction: Using Best Practices to Construct Quality Items AACN Faculty Development Conference 2009

Test Construction: Using Best Practices to Construct Quality Items AACN Faculty Development Conference 2009 Dance Away Test Construction Blues Teacher Made Exams: Is it Worth the Time? • Guides remediation • Validates learning – Unit exams (formative) – Final exams (summative if comprehensive) • Directs Curriculum revision • Familiarizes learners with nursing exams • 2008 NCLEX Pass Rates Evaluation of Student’s Knowledge • Most recognized source of assessment is a “test” – Students demonstrate learning – Teachers evaluate student performance • Must be accurate and unbiased • Remember, tests only provide one measure and only one domain of learning – Selective (can we test everything we teach?) Domains of Learning • Cognitive – Most commonly assessed with exam (Bloom’s) • Presentations; discussion boards • Psychomotor – Skills lab; clinical; simulation • Affective – “Affective learning outcomes involve attitudes, motivation, and values” (Smith & Ragan, 1999). – Affective has strong influence on cognitive & psychomotor ..................................................continued............................................