In a message dated 3/26/03 1:25:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< To make things more objective, multiple choice exams have become at least a major source of "information". These almost must be trivial pursuit; a good problem requires at least 15 minutes of available time, and should not be graded by the answer, but by the way it is approached and treated. Even breaking it down to its parts loses so much that the important parts cannot be tested. >> It is difficult to disagree with the first part of this statement but I have a problem with the next part. Decision making is extremely important in the world today. If there is work leading up to the decision that must be made and that work involves some error on the part of the decision maker the final answer may result in many things which are not reversable. Examples: Deciding to close a plant; not produce a product; send men into battle; select a dose of medicine; sell stock. All involve a decision. I don't see why we would give a student partical credit for doing a problem that results in a wrong decision. The most important thing is the answer, not not how it is approached. The approach may be correct but the calculations may be faulty. Fire 32 men and close the plant. The decision is made. You can't come back three-months later and say "Woops, I made an addition mistake. Let's reopen the plant." It is WRONG to give partial credit when it leads to the wrong answer which results in a bad decision that may affect people's lives. Would you like to hire an individuals who attained a grade of 80 knowing that he/she made a number of mistakes in decision making but was given partial credit? Isn't the purpose of education to produce student's who make good decisions? Just a quick 2cents worth. Dr. Robert C. Knodt 4949 Samish Way, #31 Bellingham, WA 98229 [EMAIL PROTECTED] "My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely." Joel Harder . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
