I am still looking for more-sophisticated quiz systems but I have looked at 2 papers which have investigated the use of online quizzes as a way of encouraging students to do pre-class reading, so the only feedback they receive is whether their answers are right or wrong.
Positive findings
The primary finding of Marcell’s (2008) study was that brief, regularly-scheduled, out-of-class quizzes were associated with asking more reading-related questions and making more reading-related comments at the beginning of class. Also, Marcell concluded that pre-class quizzes were associated with students being more likely to complete the assigned reading before the class. Many students reported that regular quizzing provided a structure for studying that encouraged them to pace their reading and to work harder to understand the material.
Contradictory Findings
Johnson (2006) refers to contradictory findings about the benefits of quizzes. She cites Brothen and Wombach (2001) whose findings indicated that “spending time taking quizzes…was related to poorer exam performance”(p 293) even though in-class exams consisted of items identical to those in the quizzes. (a possible explanation is that students used text-books to answer quizzes.)
Johnson asks whether the link found by some researchers between quizzes and increased achievement shows that their use causes achievement or that achievement causes their use.
Both these papers refer to WebCT which is apparently a quiz tool. Does anyone have any experience of it?
Brothen, T., and Wambach, C. (2001). Effective student use of computerized quizzes. Teaching of Psychology, 28, 292-294.
Johnson,G. (2006) Optional Online Quizzes, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 32 (1)
Marcell, M.(2008)Effectiveness of Regular Online Quizzing in Increasing Class Participation and Preparation, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2 (1)
Benefits of quizzes
I am still looking for more-sophisticated quiz systems but I have looked at 2 papers which have investigated the use of online quizzes as a way of encouraging students to do pre-class reading, so the only feedback they receive is whether their answers are right or wrong.
Positive findings
The primary finding of Marcell’s (2008) study was that brief, regularly-scheduled, out-of-class quizzes were associated with asking more reading-related questions and making more reading-related comments at the beginning of class. Also, Marcell concluded that pre-class quizzes were associated with students being more likely to complete the assigned reading before the class. Many students reported that regular quizzing provided a structure for studying that encouraged them to pace their reading and to work harder to understand the material.
Contradictory Findings
Johnson (2006) refers to contradictory findings about the benefits of quizzes. She cites Brothen and Wombach (2001) whose findings indicated that “spending time taking quizzes…was related to poorer exam performance”(p 293) even though in-class exams consisted of items identical to those in the quizzes. (a possible explanation is that students used text-books to answer quizzes.)
Johnson asks whether the link found by some researchers between quizzes and increased achievement shows that their use causes achievement or that achievement causes their use.
Both these papers refer to WebCT which is apparently a quiz tool. Does anyone have any experience of it?
Brothen, T., and Wambach, C. (2001). Effective student use of computerized quizzes. Teaching of Psychology, 28, 292-294.
Johnson,G. (2006) Optional Online Quizzes, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 32 (1)
Marcell, M.(2008) Effectiveness of Regular Online Quizzing in Increasing Class Participation and Preparation, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2 (1)