ERIC Number: ED269472
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Apr-19
Pages: 18
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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Using Locally Developed Comprehensive Exams for Majors to Assess and Improve Academic Program Quality.
Banta, Trudy W.; Schneider, Janet A.
This paper briefly presents a history of comprehensive examinations in higher education in the United States, characteristics of comprehensive exams, and the use of such exams in assessing program quality. This paper then focuses on the experience of 11 program faculties at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), that developed and used exit exams for majors as one component of a comprehensive program evaluation process. The purpose for test development is discussed, as well as test development procedures: (1) faculty involvement; (2) initial steps; (3) item types; (4) test length; (5) consultants; and (6) test revisions. The preparation of students, test administration and scoring are described, as is the post-administration evaluation of the tests through student reaction, faculty reaction, item analysis, test revision, and test security. The use of test results, future test use, and faculty reaction to the test development process are presented. Faculty involvement in the test development and a review of students' performance stimulated a variety of improvements, including increases in curricular structure, more consistency among faculty teaching core courses, stronger linkages between lower- and upper-division coursework, and more opportunities for students to apply knowledge learned in classes. (PN)
Descriptors: College Curriculum, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Evaluation, Departments, Educational Quality, Exit Examinations, Higher Education, Item Analysis, Majors (Students), Outcomes of Education, Program Evaluation, Program Improvement, Relevance (Education), Scoring, Teacher Made Tests, Test Construction, Testing
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A