Combining the formative with the summative: the development of a twostage online test to encourage engagement and provide personal feedback in large classes
Susanne Voelkel
This paper explains a cycle of 3 years of different uses of online test technology.
Cycle 1 students have the choice of taking formative tests each we. Take up is small but learning gains appear to make it a useful activity.
Cycle 2 not surprisingly the author tries it as a summative exam worth 20% of final mark. Take up is higher but learning gains decrease. Student feedback is also poor.
Cycle 3 a combination, students have to achieve 80% in a formative test in order to take the online test which are still worth 20%. Learning gains are the same as cycle 1, but number of attempts of formative have increased and student feedback is far more favourable.
Well worth a read
