TY - CHAP
T1 - Practice makes perfect?
T2 - Assessing the effectiveness of online practice exams in blended learning biology classes
AU - Walker, J. D.
AU - Christopher Brooks, D.
AU - Hammond, Kyle
AU - Fall, Bruce A.
AU - Peifer, Richard W.
AU - Schnell, Rogene
AU - Schottel, Janet L.
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - Empirical research on the use of practice exams or quizzes does not yield a clear verdict about whether such exams improve student performance, however. A number of studies have yielded results favoring the use of formative quizzes and exams. Johnson and Kiviniemi (2009) found that compulsory reading quizzes improved students’ exam and overall course performance. DeSouza and Fleming (2003) compared online quizzes with paper quizzes and found a performance advantage for the online format, possibly because online quizzes remove spatial and temporal constraints. Hadsell (2009) studied quiz timing and concluded that completing quizzes shortly after relevant material is presented in class improves exam performance. Similar findings were reported by Dobson (2008), Brar, Laube, and Bett. (2007), Grimstad and Grabe (2004), Maki, Maki, Patterson, and Wittaker (2000), and Olson and McDonald (2004). In contrast, many investigations have produced null results. For instance, Azorlosa and Renner (2006), Wilder, Flood, and Stromsnes (2001), and Haberyan (2003) gave in-class quizzes, but produced no evidence of improved exam performance. Palmer and Devitt (2008) reached similar conclusions, as did Brothen and Wambach (2001), and Peat and Franklin (2003).
AB - Empirical research on the use of practice exams or quizzes does not yield a clear verdict about whether such exams improve student performance, however. A number of studies have yielded results favoring the use of formative quizzes and exams. Johnson and Kiviniemi (2009) found that compulsory reading quizzes improved students’ exam and overall course performance. DeSouza and Fleming (2003) compared online quizzes with paper quizzes and found a performance advantage for the online format, possibly because online quizzes remove spatial and temporal constraints. Hadsell (2009) studied quiz timing and concluded that completing quizzes shortly after relevant material is presented in class improves exam performance. Similar findings were reported by Dobson (2008), Brar, Laube, and Bett. (2007), Grimstad and Grabe (2004), Maki, Maki, Patterson, and Wittaker (2000), and Olson and McDonald (2004). In contrast, many investigations have produced null results. For instance, Azorlosa and Renner (2006), Wilder, Flood, and Stromsnes (2001), and Haberyan (2003) gave in-class quizzes, but produced no evidence of improved exam performance. Palmer and Devitt (2008) reached similar conclusions, as did Brothen and Wambach (2001), and Peat and Franklin (2003).
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U2 - 10.4324/9781315880310-21
DO - 10.4324/9781315880310-21
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85086562508
SN - 9780415632508
SP - 150
EP - 158
BT - Blended Learning
PB - Taylor and Francis
ER -