Students Create Quiz Questions

We like Music Technology students to create questions because it helps us think and learn from a different perspective. Creating questions uses a different part of our minds than just studying and taking exams or quizzes. The quiz show jeopardy is famous for this as contestants must phrase their responses in the form of questions. Sometimes your questions can help add to our Test Pool Question Banks collection of questions which helps us all learn. You might even see YOUR question on a Final Exam.

The Art and Pedagogy of Creating Quiz Questions

Since Socrates time, asking good questions has been regarded as a strong indicator of knowledge and intelligence. Formative use of multiple choice tests facilitates learning and can motivate and guide the student. The task of creating tests with questions and alternatives, can be difficult. The process towards a successful test requires a certain amount of background knowledge, an overview of the field in question, and the ability to view the knowledge domain from a different perspective. The art and science of creating tests, or educational assessment, is also known as psychometrics.

Music Technology - Constant Evolution

The field of Music Technology is constantly evolving and developing. Every time we turn around, or check our email, there is another announcement of an amazing invention, discovery, software update etc. in music technology! Unlike other disciplines, like math, science and English, we can't teach, and repeat, the same material every year year. There will be new advancements in Music Technology even as this class progresses over the 12 week quarter, or 16 week semester, making some things obsolete before we even finish the class! It's impossible for an instructor to create hundreds of original quiz questions every time new materials and resources are discovered. Students can participate as content creators and help add quiz questions to benefit the entire music technology community. We are all members of the Music Technology Study Group as we learn and grow together.

OK. Enough theory. Let's get down to business and create some quiz questions.

How to Write Helpful Questions

1. Can be "Multiple Choice" or "True and False" quiz questions.
2. Put a plus sign "+" next to the correct answer.
3. For Multiple Choice Questions:
   • Minimize the use of detractors. (wrong answers).
   • Minimum 3 answers per question.
   • Maximum 5 answers per question.

Example of Good Multiple Choice Question

1. Which answer below is not correct?
   • This answer is true and correct. It is useful to be reminded of this fact.
   • This answer is true and correct. It is useful to reinforce this fact.
   • This answer is true and correct. Something the student might have overlooked.
   • This answer is true and correct. VERY good to know!
   • + This answer is false and wrong. Stands out like a sore thumb and is obviously different than the rest of the correct answers.

These kind of questions are good because they reinforce correct information so are inherently educational. In this way, the questions are more than "assessments." They are not "tests." The quizzes are interactive study guides that help present a body of knowledge reminding students of key points. The possible answers become an outline of bullet points engaging students into "aha moments."

Example of Potentially Poor Multiple Choice Question - Bad Detractors

1. Which answer below is correct?
   • This detractor is false, incorrect nonsense gibberish - wasting the student's time to even read this!
   • This detractor is false, incorrect nonsense gibberish - leaving the student wondering WTF?
   • This detractor is false, incorrect nonsense gibberish - confusing the student trying to understand "what are you asking and why?"
   • This detractor is false, incorrect nonsense gibberish - prompts the honest response "ask me if I care!"
   • + This answer is true and correct. (by this point the student is exhausted after being dragged through the mud of poorly written detractors.)

The problem with these types of questions is they make the student sift through a bunch of nonsense. This can be a confusing waste of time that does not help reinforce learning. Sometimes these questions can be helpful IF they are worded very carefully and contemplating all the detractors is beneficial to the student. It's OK to create questions like this, but please do so with care.

Example of Useful Detractors

1. Which answer below is correct?
   • This answer is a detractor and is important information for students to know this is absolutely incorrect!
     • for example, represents a serious safety hazard
   • This answer is a detractor and is important information for students to know this is absolutely incorrect!
     • for example, doing this could damage equipment
   • This answer is a detractor and is mission critical for students to know this is absolutely incorrect!
     • for example, it's impossible to do this
   • This answer is a detractor and is essential for students to know this is absolutely incorrect!
     • for example, this is against the law
   • + This answer is true and correct!

Detractors are helpful if they server to reinforce important things students should be aware of.

For more information about the benefits of creating quiz questions read this: Students Create Tests - Case Study.