I haven’t posted a blog in a while because I have been working on a biology questions bank. It has 350 short and long response questions with just a few T/F and fill in the blanks. The questions cover a wide range of biology topics and levels of difficulty. This bank originated as a source of questions for a daily journal.
I had my students keep a daily biology journal (in a non-spiral composition book) that they completed as a “bell-ringer” type of activity. The journal was used to review current material and to ultimately serve as a review for tests, such as unit, semester, and final exams.
Every day, after allowing students time to complete the journal, a student was called on to offer their answer and then I went over and explained the answer to the class. Students were allowed time to correct their responses, if needed. The journal was graded on correct formatting and the presence of the answer. Each individual answer was not checked, because we had gone over the answers in class. I did randomly check some answers to keep the students “honest.” Journals were collected and graded every 10 entries. This grade was counted as a “test” grade, and gave students a useful way to help their grades. Students who consistently and faithfully wrote in their journals expressed that it was a helpful study tool. A journal template and instructions will be included with my new product.
As I was making this bank, I began to realize that teachers could use the questions any way they desired. Teachers will be able to “copy and paste,” so questions can be added to the journal template, and also to tests, worksheets, and other materials. It includes a table of contents that has links to each section, making it easier to navigate. This is my first product where I have allowed copy and pasting. Countless hours have been spent making the question-and-answer banks, editing them, and all that is involved in making a lesson to sell. I do ask that purchasers respect the copyright, and use this only in their classrooms.
Lastly, I know that teachers receive test banks in the ancillary materials that go with their course materials. I have not found these to be very useful. My students responded to the questions that I made more effectively than the test bank questions. This product connects teaching directly to the test, without teaching the test. There are many ways the question bank can be integrated into textbook reading, labs, and worksheets, as well as testing.
I hope you will check out my new product and find it to be useful.
Happy Teaching!
-Jane
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