SOE INFO-Session : Planning and Designing a Test Questionnaire Effectively

24 April, 2015 - The School of Education organized an In-service info-sessions for its staff on how to set good Multiple Choice questions effectively. Mr Goasa, a senior lecturer of the University specialized in students assessment and educational psychology facilitate the activity very assertively. Before he join the University of Goroka to be in academe, he was previously working with the Measurement Service Unit (MSU) of the National Department of Education. Due to his wealth of experiences in setting of grade 12 examinations, he presented tips on how to design cognitive tests. He emphasized the importance of having a Test Specification Plan (TSP) because after having the TSP, the teacher can then move on to design test items.

The presentation was about “Designing of Cognitive Test”. It is vital to design valid and reliable items as stated. According to Mr Goasa, to design these items, “it requires background knowledge of the subject matter to be tested, an understanding of student experiences, good communication skills and some imagination”.

The in-service went through very successfully with positive feedback from the participants. Few senior lecturers gave positive remarks in regard to the presentation stating that this presentation is very useful and that all academics should apply the skills when setting exams for their students.