Have Students Grade Quizzes

[PennTeacher]

What do you think of having students grade the multiple-choice/fill in the blank portions of a quiz or test? The essays alone take a while to grade and I'd like to find a way to speed up the process.

[WGU Grad]

I do that frequently in my 2nd grade class. I instruct everyone to put their pencils in their desks and get out a crayon, then I tell them to trade papers with a neighbor. That way, no one is grading their own paper, and the only marks that can be made on anyone's paper are in crayon - no chance for cheating.

Larry

[AW2245]

I have the students check those parts of a quiz, but I always re-check them to make sure they did it right (there always seem to be at least one who didn't mark on wrong that should have been or marked on wrong that was right!). I do it more for the immediate response of what they missed/got right so they can ask questions if need be. I also have them check with pen, but I have them check their own since someone may not want another person seeing their score.

[dsmms]

I often let them check their own. I tell them if they have corrected the answer, I will give them credit for the corrected answer. This way they are more likely to pay attention during the discussion about the answer. They get quick feedback on what they missed and can ask questions specific to their needs. I do have them mark correct answers with a colored pen so I can see at a glance what they missed.

[David]

I'd rather not let students grade each others work as it can be embarrassing for poor student to have his work graded by a peer. Some students will not be as sensitive to the efforts of a poorer performing student as a teacher would be.

[silvana]

My children have their work checked by others it is usually their respoinse partner and I tend to pick these with sensitivity. I do take David's point but I also feel that kids have more ownership of the learning when they are involved in the assessment of it. I do a lot of self assessment.

[Boxcar]

Well...

I wouldn't do it. Students can find a number of ways to give peers extra points. They might "accidentily" add the number wrong incorrectly or overlook a missed answer. There are many others ways as well.

Are you willing to re-check all the papers? That is what it comes to doing. If you don't want cheating, that is what you'll need to do.

[Brit]

I always resented doing that as a kid. I didn't like people looking at my work and I didn't like seeing other people's work.

am I alone?

[SS Rocks!]

All graded work is strictly kept between me and the student. I don't like the idea of making grades, ability, or achievement public.

If it were a pre-quiz or something of that nature, I would not see as much of a problem with it.

[PennTeacher]

Thanks for the feedback. I understand that students may not like others seeing their work, and could actually be a source of embarrassment.

So, for multiple-choice/fill-in-the-blank style answers, does anyone have some suggestions for speeding up the grading process? I don't have access to a scantron, but there must be some way of using a template to make things go faster.

[SS Rocks!]

When you type up your tests, I would suggest placing a line to the left of your question number and have students write the letter (I strongly recommend having them use capital letters) on the line.

____ 1. What is the capital of the United States?

Then, you could have your key on top of the test you're grading and should be able to buzz through them pretty quickly.

[wig]

I NEVER have students grading other students work. I honestly feel that is an evasion of privacy. I always have them clear off their desks entirely. I give them a pen to grade with - usually red. (I know. Ruins their self-esteem. :) ) I spot check them for errors in grading. I teach middle school and have not had anyone cheat yet, although with clearing the desk, that would be difficult.

[Mrs B]

I like to give quick feedback and my students want it RIGHT THEN!! On the occasion that I give a MC test, they will often ask me if they can grade them so that they can see what they made that day.

I ask if anyone would rather that I grade their test (even if that means they have to wait until the next day to see their score). Those who say they want me to grade theirs, I take their tests out. Others, I pass out to students to grade, paying close attention to who gets whos paper. No one gets a close friends test, no one gets the paper of anyone sitting close to them, and students whom I trust to be sensitive get the papers of any student that I suspect didn't do that well. It appears to be random when I pass them out...and if I suspect a student will not keep up while we check, I "accidentally" run out of papers before I get to them (after all, I always have a 2 or 3 students who want me to grade theirs).

After reading answers to them to check, I tell them how to score if for an approximate grade and allow them to return the test to the owner. I take them up and skim them for mistakes and refigure the score. (I tell them that the actual grade may change slightly in case I give them partial credit somewhere or find a mistake.)

Many times, I have so few to grade that I can actually grade them as I read answers to the class and return those to students that day, too.

It works well for me. Good luck!

[SS Rocks!]

Mrs B, like how you give them the option of having you grade the quiz instead of a classmate.