How can you use technology to create effective multiple-choice questions?

Due to how difficult it is to create effective MCQs, I would use AI tools to help me create them! This is because it would take me too long to create distractor MCQ options that sound plausible.

Remember what you are testing for the question. How the question is written should not be a barrier to providing the correct answer. However, be careful not to oversimplify or explain in the question stem to the point of giving away answers to other questions.

As a teacher, I know it can be difficult to come up with plausible but incorrect options that don't give the answer away. The distractors are vital to making MCQs work properly - to really test the students' knowledge and judgement. Using AI tools to generate distractors matched to specific content and difficulty levels has really supported me so far this academic year. It has helped speed up the process of creating MCQs without sacrificing question quality. Teachers can often get bogged down writing distractors, when their time is better spent elsewhere.

The best distractors are ones that include common and real-life errors or misconceptions. These are only effective when there is an opportunity to review the items. Without the opportunity to review incorrect answers, the learning is diminished.

Have a method to collect metrics on your items and review the data. If the data says the item was too challenging, evaluate the concept first for overall difficulty, then consider the practice/instruction relating to that item and then lastly consider the item itself before deciding whether or not it accurately reflects the reason it was created and placed on the test.

Enhancing the efficacy of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) is pivotal for effective assessment. After drafting, it's crucial to review and refine MCQs, ensuring they align with learning goals. As curriculum evolves, questions should adapt to remain relevant. Leveraging technology simplifies this process. Online editors facilitate seamless editing, while version control systems track modifications over time. Learning management systems offer holistic management, ensuring MCQs are timely and pertinent. In essence, the combination of meticulous review and modern technology ensures MCQs remain a robust, relevant tool in educational assessment.

One of the best things you can do is talk about a test AFTER it has been written. Share common errors and mistakes and help students understand the areas the y still can improve for future assessments.

If you want to make your assessment formative, you can use technology to set up a smart MCQ marking device that provides learners with clear explanations about errors related to incorrect answers. It then becomes possible to offer them remedial assessments with alternative MCQs on the same topic but formulated differently.