The Nurse Educator's Guide to Assessing Learning Outcomes / Edition 3

by Mary E. McDonald

Overview

The Nurse Educator's Guide to Assessing Learning Outcomes, Third Edition is a widely-used resource for both faculty and nursing education students that covers the assessment of critical thinking, the development of learning objectives, and the creation of tests, including detailed tips for writing many kinds of individual test items. The book also covers the analysis of test reliability. Examples of effective and ineffective test items are included throughout to help faculty and nurse educators deepen their understanding of how to create effective tests and assess student learning.

This new edition addresses the increased pressure that NCLEX and other certification exams are placing on nursing students and faculty, and reflects the most recent updates to the NCLEX Detailed Test Plan. Each chapter has been updated with timely information and examples.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449687670
Publisher:	Jones & Bartlett Learning
Publication date:	02/13/2013
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Mary E. McDonald has a unique combination of experience that contributes to her expertise as an Educational Assessment Consultant. She received her BSN from BostonCollegeand has earned Masters degrees in both Nursing Education and Measurement in Applied Psychology from New York University. Mary has more than 25 years of experience as a nurse educator at both the baccalaureate and associate degree levels. Mary is an expert in the development of classroom exams and is known nationally for her workshops and presentations on various aspects of test development, including writing critical thinking multiple-choice items. Mary is president of Educational Assessment Strategies, LLC (www.EAStrategies.com),an educational consulting practice that is dedicated to assisting nursing faculty to improve student assessment strategies through seminars and individual program consultation.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Role of Assessment in Instruction
Chapter 2 The Language of Assessment
Chapter 3 Developing Instructional Objectives
Chapter 4 Implementing Systematic Test Development
Chapter 5 Selected-Response Format: Developing Multiple Choice Items
Chapter 6 Writing Critical Thinking Multiple-Choice Items
Chapter 7 Selected-Response Format: Developing True-False and Matching Items
Chapter 8 Constructed-Response Format: Developing Short-Answer and Essay Items
Chapter 9 Assembling, Administering, and Scoring a Test
Chapter 10 Preparing Students for the Licensure Exam: The Importance of NCLEX
Chapter 11 Establishing Evidence of Reliability and Validity
Chapter 12 Interpreting Test Results
Chapter 13 Lab oratory and Clinical Evaluation
Chapter 14 Assigning Grades
Chapter 15 Instituting Item Banking and Test Development Software

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Linda J. Keilman, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP (Michigan State University College of Nursing)
Description: Serving as a reference for test development and analysis, this is an in-depth nurse educator guide to developing effective examinations for the classroom. This edition expands and updates information for developing organized and logical assessment tools that accurately measure learner outcomes. Each chapter has a summary, learning activities, web links, and references, and a new chapter describes NCLEX test question development. The previous edition was published in 2013.
Purpose: According to the author, the focus of the book is on increasing nurse educators' level of confidence in developing trustworthy examinations and competency in analyzing assessment instruments. The goals are worthy as many nurse educators are not familiar with objectively using statistical measurement as a means of evaluation, particularly related to examinations. There is an art to developing sound, criterion-referenced tests. This book helps novice and expert educators in embracing sound pedagogical strategies to approach the creation of examinations.
Audience: The author indicates this book is for graduate nursing students in education programs as well as nurse educators seeking professional development in the assessment/outcome arena, or it can be used as a complete outcome assessment reference. The book is organized, logical, and quite readable, meeting its intended objective. The author is a well-known expert consultant in educational assessment.
Features: The 15 chapters cover every aspect of assessment related to learning outcomes from writing objectives to developing rubrics and examinations. Every chapter starts with a pertinent and meaningful quote. There are clear, understandable figures, boxes, tables, exhibits, bulleted and numbered lists that make the most important points stand out. Throughout, the organization is consistent and the book ends with six appendixes with very helpful templates, sample questions, item stems, and updated information on Bloom's taxonomies. The font size and spacing make it an easy read. The index is detailed and helpful.
Assessment: This book covers assessment of learning outcomes in a succinct, concise, and easy to follow manner. The many examples help readers to apply the concepts they are learning to real-world classroom or online scenarios. This edition is up to date and full of new references and sample questions. As a reference, it can be very helpful.

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