The Teaching Machine, also known as the “subject
matter trainer,” assessed students’ multiple choice assignments and offered
feedback until the wrong answers were corrected.
Is this the first scan-tron? Wow, I didn't even think to consider something like that, but now that I do think of it, it has most definitely affected the academic world in a big way. It has created tests that force its takers to determine the only, or best possible answer, which I believe promotes critical thinking. Its no wonder that the SAT, MCAT, LSAT, and any other major test is largely multiple choice.
The argument against scan-tron though is that these large scale tests are only multiple choice because alternative test methods would prove logistically impossible to grade given the sheer volume of tests taken. Also, many don't like the multiple choice style test because it insinuates that there's only one right answer. But ultimately I believe questions can be formulated in such a way where there can only be one possible correct answer within the given set of answers, so hooray scan-tron. It has most definitely helped academics more than it has harmed it.
Is this the first scan-tron? Wow, I didn't even think to consider something like that, but now that I do think of it, it has most definitely affected the academic world in a big way. It has created tests that force its takers to determine the only, or best possible answer, which I believe promotes critical thinking. Its no wonder that the SAT, MCAT, LSAT, and any other major test is largely multiple choice.
ReplyDeleteThe argument against scan-tron though is that these large scale tests are only multiple choice because alternative test methods would prove logistically impossible to grade given the sheer volume of tests taken. Also, many don't like the multiple choice style test because it insinuates that there's only one right answer. But ultimately I believe questions can be formulated in such a way where there can only be one possible correct answer within the given set of answers, so hooray scan-tron. It has most definitely helped academics more than it has harmed it.