Group+3+-+Week+2

Group 3 Members: **__ 1. Use the DISCUSSION tab above to find your discussion questions and/or tasks. __**
 * Fiona Connaghan
 * Meghan Lambert
 * Rosemary Yocherer
 * Jamie Trask
 * Nicole Diddens
 * Kelly Steinhaus

//** 2. **// //** POST the selected response items created collaboratively with your discussion group here (as a group decide who will take the lead and post each item): **//

** · ** 1 binary-choice assessment item

Answer True or False: The Great Lakes of North America are man made lakes.

ANS WER: FALSE, GLACIERS HELPED TO FORM THESE LAKES

** · ** ** 1 multiple binary-choice assessment item **

** · ** ** 1 multiple-choice assessment item ** Why are zebra mussels considered a threat to North America waters?

A. There are not enough to go around. B. They are a problem for fisherman. C. They eat large amounts of plankton. D. They carry a deadly poison.

(answer: C. They eat large amounts of plankton)

· ** 1 matching item ** Match up each state with its corresponding capital. Be sure to put the letter of the capital next to the correct state it matches up with. You can only use each choice once. (ANWERS: 1. F, 2. E, 3. J, 4. I, 5. C, 6. H, 7. B)
 * 1.) Alabama || A.) Augustus ||
 * 2.) Alaska || B.) Austin ||
 * 3.) Florida || C.) Helena ||
 * 4.) Illinois || D.) Jefferson City ||
 * 5.) Montana || E.) Juneau ||
 * 6.) Oregon || F.) Montgomery ||
 * 7.) Texas || G.) Pierre ||
 * || H.) Salem ||
 * || I.) Springfield ||
 * || J.) Tallahassee ||

3**__ . POST YOUR GROUP CONSENSUS HERE (The group leader for these 4 Short Answer activities will be the member whose middle name comes earliest in alphabetical order.): __**

Short Answer Item # 1 - flaw(s)? The major flaw we all agreed on was that there was too many blanks. It became a swiss cheese question. Also, we agreed that the wording was to confusing and complex which goes against the commandment about keeping the wording concise and appropriate.

Evidence: The evidence was that there was too many blanks in the question. The wording we could not even understand, which would make it hard for other students as well.

Short Answer Item # 2 - flaw(s)? The flaw in this item is that the blanks are at the beginning of the question which goes against the writing guidelines.

Evidence: A better way to word the question in order to have the blanks at the end would be "The two least frequently used parts of speech in the English language are _ __and__ _. By having the blanks at the end of the item make it easier to understand for students than having it at the beginning.

Short Answer Item # 3 - flaw(s)? This item needs to be more concise and less wordy. Also, direct questions are better to use instead of the incomplete sentences.

Evidence: We agreed that the item can be reworded in a question format instead of an incomplete sentence and also it can be more concise. One example would be "How many years do the type of turtle found in "Tardy Turtle" live for? This is an easier question for students to understand and answer.

Short Answer Item # 4 - flaw(s)? This item violates commandment four. It is worded in a complex way. Items need to be brief and concise.

Evidence: The item needs to be re-worded by getting rid of unncessary words and commas. An example we came up with and agreed on was "An important American document which led to the founding of the nation was the.

**__ 4. POST YOUR GROUP CONSENSUS HERE (The group leader for these 4 Essay activities will be the member whose birthday is closest to Independence Day, July 4th.): __**

Essay Item # 1 - flaw(s)? Essay item #1 appears to violate the writing guideline which states that 'It is best not to offer optional items on essay exams'.

Evidence: Although essay item 1 doesn't directly go against this rule, in an ambiguous way, it does. The question lets students decide which branch they want to write on, based on their opinion of which branch is most important/powerful. Essentially, the teacher could be grading three different exams depending on which branch each student selects. We also felt that the question was slightly opinion based which makes it even more difficult for the teacher to grade. It makes it impossible for the teacher to grade and compare on a common scale.

Essay Item # 2 - flaw(s)? We felt that essay item 2 violated the following writing guidelines: 1. It is imperative that teachers clearly convey just how extensive of a response it desired, 2. It is important to provide students with time to be expanded AND each items value up front 3. It is best not to offer optional items on essay exams.

Evidence: The directions for answering the essay item did not include information on how long the answer should be OR how many points it was worth. This makes it difficult for students to determine how much time and energy should be spent on answering that question. You don't want students spending half the testing period answering a question that is only worth 10% of the final exam grade. Also, at the end of the question, it clearly states that students have the option of answering a different essay question. This will only make grading and comparing exam grades across a common scale more difficult for the teacher. Remember, as a teacher, you are aiming at making better teaching decisions using test-based inferences. Making the grading process more difficult will only skew the final results and make it impossible to make effective instructional decisions.

Essy Item # 3 - flaw(s)? We felt that both commandment #3 and commandment #5 were being violated in essay item number 3.

Evidence: Essay item #3 was a disaster! All of us agreed that the question was unclear and worded in a complex manner. We also felt that the vocabulary used in the question was too advanced and would make the comprehension of what the question was asking that much more difficult for students. Instead of making the question simple and clear, the question was put in a way that would make just deciphering it a task in and of itself! We think the question could be cleaned up by simply re-wording it into simpler sentences and replacing some of the advanced words with simpler one.

Essay Item # 4 - flaw(s)? We agreed that this test item violate the writing guideline which states that it is good practice to provide students with time to be expended.

Evidence Although essay item 4 directly says that the students have 15 minutes to complete it, we found some contradictions in the directions. First of all, the question is very detailed and asks for alot of information in to be shared in the final essay response. The question also states they have a half page to answer it and that it is worth ALOT of points. How do you expect the student to answer the question completely using only 15 minutes and half a sheet of paper?! That's crazy. Plus most students are going to want to spend more time and energy on it since points are more heavily weighted for this portion of the exam.

**__ 5. POST YOUR INDIVIDUAL DESIGNS HERE: __** The process of turning sunlight into energy in a plant is referred to as what?? (ANSWER: Photosynthesis)
 * Your own design - FIONA **
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **


 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

Identify three reasons for why deforestation occurs and the effects it has on the climate, animals and indigenous people of that area. Be sure to address the human purposes for the act of deforestation. You should spend no more than 20 minutes answering this question, and your answer should be no longer than 150 words. **(This test question is worth 25 points).**

** Your own design - **** MEGHAN ** A set of laws that were enacted after the civil war that discriminated against African Americans in the south were called? (Jim Crow Laws)
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **

Identify the political, economic, and social factors that led to WWI in Europe. You should back up your thoughts with examples from class readings and discussions. Spend no more than thirty minutes and your answer should be no more than 150-200 words. **__This is worth 35 points.__**
 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

** Your own design - ROSEMARY ** Name one threat to silence loons.
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **

(Possible answers: acid rain or factory chemicals)

Explain the oil drilling process. You should be able to write about __where oil is found geographically and ecologically__, __how drillers get the oil out__, and __what effects oil drilling can have on our environment__. Your essay should be three full paragraphs in length. You will have thirty minutes to complete the essay and it will be worth 50 points.
 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

Your own design - JAMIE
 * **__ 1 short-answer assessment item __**

How many inches are there in a foot? Answer: 12 inches 1 essay assessment item What is the value and importance of community service in our society and tell us what it means to you? (You have 30 minutes to answer this question and this essay question is worth 50 points).

Your own design - NICOLE Answer: The Missouri River
 * **__ 1 short-answer assessment item __**
 * What is the longest river in the United States?


 * **__ 1 essay assessment item __**
 * How much did the lives of black southerners change between the end of the Civil War and the end of the nineteeth century? You will have 25 minutes to complete this question with 100 words minimum and it will be worth 25points.

Your own design - KELLY
 * **__ 1 short-answer assessment item __**
 * **__ 1 essay assessment item __**