Comments on: Too much information? http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/ Science, science education, and other things ... with a distinctly Southern drawl Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:13:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Billy (A Liberal Disabled Vet) http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/#comment-20931 Billy (A Liberal Disabled Vet) Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:50:17 +0000 http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/#comment-20931 One of my history professors in college (Professor Moriarty (seriously)) once gave a multiple choice test to my English History class. His multiple choice tests were notorious, because he asked for the best answer, not the correct answer (this meant he could give four technically correct answer and you had to pick which one was the most technically correct). As an experiment, he, before class, wrote on the right side of the board all the answers in order, but with no numbers (ie. ADCCEDDAABADD etc.). I noticed the letters, wondered what they were for, and began taking the test. Nine questions in (okay, I'm a little slow on the uptake) I compared my answers with what was on the board. We disagreed on one letter and, when I checked that question, decided the board was right. I then went through the rest of the test reading the question, the answers, picking what I thought was right, and then checking the board. Thirty questions in I decided he really HAD put the test answers up there and I skated through the remaining 70 in about 5 minutes (I did random checks, just to be sure). I turned the test in, and he said, "Please wait 'til the end of class. Don't leave yet." So I pulled out a Silverberg book and began reading. No one else finished the test in the time alotted. He collected the test and listened to the moans and groans about the test being too difficult. He said, "Well, I gave you the answers on the board, didn't I, Mr. C-------?" "Yes, Professor Moriarty, you did." "So why didn't the rest of you read them off the board?" No one else noticed. I got an A on the test. The next best grade was a C. As good old Professor Moriarty said, "You can lead a student to the answers and they STILL won't believe you." One of my history professors in college (Professor Moriarty (seriously)) once gave a multiple choice test to my English History class. His multiple choice tests were notorious, because he asked for the best answer, not the correct answer (this meant he could give four technically correct answer and you had to pick which one was the most technically correct). As an experiment, he, before class, wrote on the right side of the board all the answers in order, but with no numbers (ie. ADCCEDDAABADD etc.). I noticed the letters, wondered what they were for, and began taking the test. Nine questions in (okay, I’m a little slow on the uptake) I compared my answers with what was on the board. We disagreed on one letter and, when I checked that question, decided the board was right. I then went through the rest of the test reading the question, the answers, picking what I thought was right, and then checking the board. Thirty questions in I decided he really HAD put the test answers up there and I skated through the remaining 70 in about 5 minutes (I did random checks, just to be sure).

I turned the test in, and he said, “Please wait ’til the end of class. Don’t leave yet.” So I pulled out a Silverberg book and began reading. No one else finished the test in the time alotted. He collected the test and listened to the moans and groans about the test being too difficult. He said, “Well, I gave you the answers on the board, didn’t I, Mr. C——-?”

“Yes, Professor Moriarty, you did.”

“So why didn’t the rest of you read them off the board?”

No one else noticed. I got an A on the test. The next best grade was a C.

As good old Professor Moriarty said, “You can lead a student to the answers and they STILL won’t believe you.”

]]> By: Rick http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/#comment-20930 Rick Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:13:11 +0000 http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/#comment-20930 I actually experimented with posting a few of the actual test <b>questions</b> a few years ago. I randomly picked a few of the questions from each test and posted them on the course web site before each test. (Not the answers, though.) The students didn't score significantly better on the pre-posted questions than on they did on the other ones. Make of that what you will. :) I actually experimented with posting a few of the actual test questions a few years ago. I randomly picked a few of the questions from each test and posted them on the course web site before each test. (Not the answers, though.)

The students didn’t score significantly better on the pre-posted questions than on they did on the other ones. Make of that what you will. :)

]]> By: Kellie http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/#comment-20924 Kellie Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:36:36 +0000 http://shrimpandgrits.rickandpatty.com/2007/12/12/too-much-information/#comment-20924 I think just actually posting the tests and exact answers would be most helpful. ;-) I think just actually posting the tests and exact answers would be most helpful. ;-)

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