Using Wikis to Collaboratively Prepare for Qualifying Examinations:

This article focuses on the experiences of seven Ph.D. students implementing a wiki to collaboratively prepare for qualifying examinations in the educational technology program at a large southeastern university. Concomitant study for such a rigorous examination is rare, and the trials and tribulations of the group are described in detail. Specific guidelines highlighting effective preparation options for qualifying exams are often elusive, and, as such, this article explores current research related to collaborative preparation and mentoring, as well as the qualifying examination process in total, in hopes of adding to the scientific body of knowledge related to these subjects. It also offers best practice strategies, suggests possible technology tips regarding wiki implementation, and seeks to better scaffold future scholars and/or mentors seeking to effectively participate in or plan for collaborative qualifying examination preparation.     

Decision making for borderline cases in pass/fail clinical anatomy courses: The practical value of the standard error of measurement and likelihood ratio in a diagnostic test

Several studies have shown that the standard error of measurement (SEM) can be used as an additional “safety net” to reduce the frequency of false‐positive or false‐negative student grading classifications. Practical examinations in clinical anatomy are often used as diagnostic tests to admit students to course final examinations. The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of SEM using the likelihood ratio (LR) in establishing decisions about students with practical examination scores at or below the pass/fail cutoff score in a clinical anatomy course. Two hundred sixty‐seven students took three clinical anatomy practical examinations in 2011. The students were asked to identify 40 anatomical structures in images and prosected specimens in the practical examination. Practical examination scores were then divided according to the following cutoff scores: 2, 1 SEM below, and 0, 1, 2 SEM above the pass score. The positive predictive value (+PV) and LR of passing the final examination were estimated for each category to explore the diagnostic value of practical examination scores. The +PV (LR) in the six categories defined by the SEM was 39.1% (0.08), 70.0% (0.30), 88.9% (1.04), 91.7% (1.43), 95.8% (3.00), and 97.8% (5.74), respectively. The LR of categories 2 SEM above/below the pass score generated a moderate/large shift in the pre‐ to post‐test probability of passing. The LR increased the usefulness and practical value of SEM by improving confidence in decisions about the progress of students with borderline scores 2 SEM above/below the pass score in practical examinations in clinical anatomy courses. Anat Sci Educ. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

The Relationship between Different Criteria for Admission to Medical School and Student Success

The relevance of admission policy for educational outcome in medical schools is demonstrated by means of longitudinal data on the total population of several cohorts of students admitted to the German medical schools on the basis of a variety of criteria (n = 28,000 students). The correlations between the quantitative criteria for admission and performance on the First Medical Examination (which takes place after 2–3 years of study) were calculated. Secondly, the mean total scores on this examination that have been achieved at first attempt by groups of students admitted according to different selection criteria were compared. Thirdly, the rates of success on the medical examination at first attempt after two years of study were compared for the above‐mentioned groups of students. The most striking result is the large difference between the groups under comparison in terms of their success rates in the First Medical Examination. The highest pass rates (80%) are achieved by students selected on the basis of a combination of the average mark in the secondary school leaving certificate and the total score on the ‘Test for Medical Studies’, an aptitude test. Had the students been admitted at random, they would only have attained a pass rate of 48% (base rate). For those admitted on the basis of the result of an interview or on the basis of ‘waiting‐time’ (i.e. the number of semesters they had spent queuing) the pass rates are 49 and 45%. The results are interpreted in the light of different political and educational goals that are or can be envisaged when decisions on admission strategies are made.     

赋能教育考试新基建 助力考试战线新发展——国家题库2.0创新实践

随着我国教育考试的发展,国家题库从最初简单的试题存储系统演化为面向考试全流程的多功能信息系统,对服务和保障国家教育考试命题能力建设发挥了一定的作用。随着教育考试综合改革的持续推进,国家题库作为考试数字化、信息化的重要体现,在总体设计、升级完善、赋能考试等领域面临新任务、新要求和新挑战。立足国家题库整体设计架构,从系统的通用性和创新性出发,从在线命题培训、试题资源库建设、试题难度机器预估3个方面阐述国家题库系统的功能拓展和实践创新。     

自学考试社会助学相关制度新探

许多研究证明,参加助学者各门课程的及格率均高于未参加者,社会助学能够促进高等教育自学考试的发展,提高自考生的科学文化水平和学习能力。为了完善高教自考社会助学制度,建议加强对助学单位行政管理,确保社会助学指导思想正确;健全对助学单位经济管理,确保参加助学自考生的合法利益;完善助学单位内部的专业管理,确保社会助学的专业培养质量;建立对助学教师的培训制度,确保课堂的教学效果。     

Use of electronic anatomy practical examinations for remediating “at risk” students

Restrictive laboratory scheduling, an increasing number of human cadaver‐based anatomy courses and a reduction in the curricular time allotted to anatomy courses have created problems with cadaver laboratory access at the University of New England. This article describes a combination of anatomy testing and grading strategies to allow “at risk” (borderline failing) students an opportunity to remediate their lowest set of examination scores and pass their anatomy course. An alternative electronic practical examination for these students provided flexibility in laboratory scheduling, thereby increasing laboratory access for other students taking concurrent courses. Specifically, the electronic examinations allowed for a reduction in the amount of time the cadaver laboratory is locked down for examination purposes. Masters‐level occupational therapy (MOT) students, physician assistant students (MPA), and doctoral level physical therapy (DPT) students participated in a prosection‐based human cadaver laboratory and take cadaver‐based practical examinations as part of their anatomy course. Students who were not performing at a passing level for their curriculum (69.5% for MOT and MPA, 79.5% for DPT) were given an opportunity to remediate their lowest set of multiple choice and practical examinations using the previous year's multiple choice examination and a new electronic practical examination. When the original cadaver‐based practical and multiple choice examination scores were replaced with the remedial electronic practical examination and remedial multiple choice examination scores, 75% (24/32) of these students were able to successfully remediate their academic deficiencies and pass their anatomy course. Anat Sci Educ 3:46–49, 2010. © 2009 American Association of Anatomists.     

医学课程阶段性综合考试实践与探索

阶段性综合考试是检测一定阶段的课程教学效果,评价学生阶段性学业成就的考试。通过实践和研究我们发现,实施阶段性综合考试是非常重要和必要的。对如何搞好综合考试,促进教学改革,提出了重视考试功能、科学确定考试内容及设计试题、选择合适的考试方法、做好考试质量分析、用好考试结果等措施。     

Summative and Formative Style Anatomy Practical Examinations: Do They Have Impact on Students’ Performance and Drive for Learning?

Anatomical knowledge is commonly assessed by practical examinations that are often administered in summative format. The format of anatomy practical examination was changed at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore from summative (graded; must pass) to formative (ungraded; no pass/fail) in academic year (AY) 2017–2018. Both assessment formats were undertaken online, but the formative mode used a team-based learning activity comprising individual and team assessments. This gave an unique opportunity to investigate: (1) the impact of two different online assessment formats on student performance in practical examination; (2) the impact of new formative practical examination on students’ performance in summative examinations; and (3) students’ opinions of these two practical examination formats. The class of 2021 perceptions was obtained as they experienced both formats. A retrospective cohort study was also conducted to analyze the Year 2 students’ performance in anatomy practical and year-end summative examinations of cohorts AY 2015–2016, AY 2016–2017 (summative format), and AY 2017–2018 (formative format). There were no significant differences in students’ performance between two practical examination formats. The cohort who experienced the formative format, performed significantly better in summative examinations (mean ± SD: 82.32 ± 10.22%) compared with the cohort who experienced the summative format (73.77 ± 11.09%) (P < 0.001). Students highlighted positive features of the formative practical examination, including team reinforcement of learning, instant feedback, and enhanced learning. These findings indicate that students continue to study for anatomy practical examination without the need for external drivers. The team-based learning style practical examination enhances students’ performance in summative examinations.     

The fear factor: students’ experiences of test anxiety when taking A-level examinations

This paper presents the findings of a pilot study that explored students’ experiences of test anxiety when taking A-level examinations. Four focus groups were convened with a sample of 19 participants in the south of England to explore the triggers of test anxiety and the perceived need for interventions to assist high test-anxious students cope with the examination process. The findings suggested that the participants experienced two types of anxiety: ‘pre-exam anxiety’ (relating to, for example, revision and mock examinations) and ‘exam-day anxiety’ (relating to practical concerns, such as school policy on the arrival of students and the time available to complete the examination). Only three participants reported feeling that their examination performance was significantly impaired by test anxiety; most reported that a degree of anxiety aided their performance. With test anxiety perceived by most participants as motivational and useful, there was little support for any interventions from examination boards, parents or teachers to help reduce or manage test anxiety. However, based on participants’ experiences of the pre-examination period, it is suggested that test anxiety may impede students’ ability to prepare for their examinations, and that interventions during this stage may be useful. The findings also imply that there are some practical steps that could be taken by the educational community to help reduce students’ test anxiety.     

论法律硕士专业学位入学考试制度的完善

入学考试是法律硕士培养工作的序章,入学考试制度的科学化能够从源头上保证法律硕士培养的质量。现有法律硕士入学考试制度存在一定的不足,分类逻辑不明晰,培养单位缺乏自主性。具有类似背景的日本法科大学院入学考试制度,可以作为我国法律硕士入学考试制度改革与完善的借鉴。通过整合在职攻读法律硕士联考、英语考试社会化以及增加培养单位自主性等措施,我国法律硕士专业学位入学考试制度能够得到进一步的完善,法律硕士专业学位研究生整体培养水平可望得到提升。     

To see or not to see? Comparing the effectiveness of examinations and end of module assessments in online distance learning

Research comparing continuous assessment (e.g. coursework) with examinations generally reveals a student preference for the former. The perceived increased use of continuous assessment periodically captures media attention, with claims of greater numbers of higher degree classifications being awarded. This paper takes a case-study approach to investigate the extent to which different types of assessment allow students to effectively demonstrate and apply their learning. By considering data gathered from second-level, undergraduate students completing 60 point, online psychology modules, this paper investigates assessment effectiveness in terms of student satisfaction, pass rate and level of pass rate. Findings reveal that modules with an end of module assessment (EMA), rather than an examination, have higher completion and pass rates. Whilst students who took a seen examination also performed well, those who completed an unseen examination recorded the lowest overall pass and completion rates, despite high ratings of student satisfaction. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for improved pedagogy and student experience.     

关于博士生资格考试的探析

资格考试是博士生培养过程中的一个重要环节,本文从博士生资格考试的目的、考试形式与内容、考试成绩评判等环节探索了美国博士生教育中资格考试的特点。根据我国博士生教育的现状,针对博士生培养环节中的淘汰机制、课程体系建设、资格考试机构的设立以及博士生导师自身综合素质的提高等方面进行分析并提出了一些改进建议。     

对基础教育考试改革方向的思考

考试改革是新一轮基础教育课程评价改革的重要组成部分,已成为人们关注的焦点。基础教育考试改革的方向应包括六个方面:突出考试的诊断性和发展性功能;考试的内容要以课程标准为依据,体现新的人才观和教育观;改进考试的方式,倡导灵活多样、多次机会、双向选择的原则;考试要考虑学生的年龄特点和个别差异;注重考试结果的运用,进行积极的评价反馈;改革毕业考试、升学考试和招生制度,将升学考试成绩与平时评价结果有机结合起来。     

Resits in higher education: merely a bar to jump over,or do they give a pedagogical ‘leg up’?

When students fail an examination at the end of their first year, they are offered a resit examination, which they merely need to pass to progress into the second year. These resits anecdotally provide a dual purpose of testing that students have achieved the required level of attainment to progress, and incentivising additional effort. This paper uses regression discontinuity design to attempt to estimate the effect of resits in first year statistics with econometrics examinations on future outcomes. Whilst resits alone appear to make zero significant effect on outcomes, students who perform well in the resit examination perform 0.7 standard deviations better in second-year microeconomics than similar students who do not receive resit examinations. These effects, if replicated more widely, could be worth up to £48,000 across the lifetime of each student.     

语文课堂教学改革的思考与实践

新的语文课程标准,新的语文教育理念,对语文课堂教学改革提出了新的要求.随着教学改革的深入开展,教师的教学行为,学生的学习方式,必将发生新的变化.语文课堂教学应激发学生的学习兴趣,注重培养学生自主学习的意识和习惯,为学生创设良好的自主学习情景,鼓励学生选择适合自己的学习方式,引导学生在实践中学会学习,同时要注重开发学生的创造潜能,促进学生持续发展.     

Do examinations stakes moderate the test anxiety–examination performance relationship?

The study reported here aimed to establish whether the stakes of examinations taken by students in the final two years of compulsory education in the UK were associated with degree of self‐reported examination anxiety, and whether examination stakes moderated the anxiety–examination grade relationship. Data were collected from 615 students who were due to take examinations conceptualised as high stakes (a terminal examination), mid stakes (a modular examination), or low stakes (a mock examination). Findings suggested that students reported the lowest levels of anxiety and attained the highest grades in the mid stakes examination. Regression analysis suggested that examination stakes do moderate the inverse anxiety–grade relationship, but the effect for high stakes examinations was not in the expected direction. Results are interpreted in the context of limitations to this study’s design. Factors associated with the different timing of the examinations may have influenced results. Due to design limitations, these findings should only be considered provisional and an attempt should be made to replicate the findings using a more robust design. This study highlights the difficulties with designing studies and collecting data in an applied educational context.     

高校实行期首考试制的设想

高校每学期进行的期终考试对检查学生该学期所学课程情况起着最终的总结性评价作用。长期以来由于学生在应试教育环境下养成了较强的应试能力，使得这种课程考试的方式既不能充分发挥促进学生学习的作用，又不能满足培养高素质创新人才的要求，同时，期终考试的时间安排对其总结性评价作用的效果又有着很大的影响。将期终考试时间改为下学期期首进行，实行“期首考试制”，有助于充分发挥期终考试的导向作用，使学生全面、牢固掌握所学课程。     

Effect of school electrification on learning outcomes: a subnational level analysis of students’ pass rate in English and mathematics in Ghana

The paper used district level students’ pass rate in a nationally conducted basic education certification examination to assess the effect of school electrification on learning outcomes. The results show that school electrification in addition to the traditional school-level inputs, such as class size, pupil–teacher ratio, ratio of core textbook to students, and sanitation, help to explain a significant portion of the variation in performance across districts. The analysis further showed that in districts classified as deprived, electrification of schools is a mediating factor for improving pass rate in English and mathematics. In a spatially differentiated developing country like Ghana, this finding is indicative of the need for policy congruence. Ghana has achieved substantial progress in extending electricity to many communities across the country. However, distribution and consumption of electricity is still skewed in favour of urban and affluent communities over rural deprived communities. Students’ performance in the standard national examinations follow similar skewed pattern. The results of this study suggest that electrification of schools could boost students’ performance, and the gain is more significant in deprived districts.     

浅谈如何在英语课堂教学中提高学生应对AB级考试

AB级考试是检测高职高专的学生,是否达到了《新编实用英语》所规定的教学内容要求而设置的考试。文章就如何改革英语课堂教学,采取灵活多样的课堂教学方法,实行分级教学,研究考题,提升学生英语应用能力,提高学生应对AB级考试等方面展开分析并提出相应措施。     

考场“Choking”：一个亟待解决的心理学问题

压力下,许多平时成绩一直名列前茅的学生在大考中却发挥失常,称其为考场＂Choking＂。文章运用理论思辨的形式对考场＂Choking＂的定义及心理机制进行了探讨,并从理论层面提出了相应的应对措施。分析认为,具有积极应对方式、个人自我意识强、特质焦虑高、成绩期望高、自我定向、自我效能感低以及外控型心理控制感等人格特质的学生在考试压力下更容易＂Choking＂。