Making tests tips

[megrimlockawesom]

Hello everyone.

I am writing an Amazing Mechatronics (NC Only Event) test for a division B invitational. I have never made a test before in my life. This event revolves primarily around troubleshooting arduino code and/or circuits. I know the event pretty well, but there are no practice tests online that I can use as a reference.

How would you guys go about writing a test?
How many questions should you write?
Multiple Choice or Open Ended?

[Unome]

From the info I've seen, I get the feeling that this event is drastically different than a typical test event.

[megrimlockawesom]

From the info I've seen, I get the feeling that this event is drastically different than a typical test event.

yeah typically you are given a diagram of a circuit and some code and there is supposed to be an error in either the code or the circuit.

[venules]

I can’t give advice specific to AmMech but in general, the way you make the test depends on who you’re making it for. Since you’re likely creating this test for the Piedmont invitational, I would keep in mind that the answers you might put down for a question aren’t necessarily the answers a middle school student or even a high school student might put down, so for free response, you have to prepare for a variety of answers. It may be a good idea to include both open-ended and multiple choice questions.
On the NCSO page for AmMech, they do have a link to a webinar scheduled for tomorrow night (Jan 15) at 8pm, so maybe that will help in terms of deciding how much to include?

[sciolycoach]

Hello,

I just finished running Amazing Mechatronics in Wisconsin (also a WI event for Div B and C this year) at the Medford Invite yesterday, and also wrote the test for the Belleville Invite. I would suggest using Tinker Circuits online and using a mix of multiple choice and free-response questions.

For Part A I generally make a circuit online in Tinker Circuits, make some errors in the hardware or coding, and then screenshot the images into the test for the kids to troubleshoot.

Let me know if you want to see a test and/or if I can help in any other way.

Good luck!

Andy

[jaspattack]

I would probably have a good mix of open-ended and multiple choice questions, like some other replies suggested. Just be sure to keep in mind that this is a) a trial event and b) an invitational, and therefore the test shouldn't be crazy difficult. If you know other people doing this event, you could have someone else look over the test and give feedback on it.

[jimmy-bond]

Like venules, I have no advice for this event as it sounds very unique. For tests in general, I tend to lean towards open-answer rather than multiple-choice to limit the guessing potential, but I always throw in a multiple-choice question or two. I don't make a certain amount of questions; instead, I go based off the number of points.

[megrimlockawesom]

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