(Middle School Mathematics)
Parents, Teachers: Have you ever compulsively checked your class grade on Norse Express after the last day of Finals week to see how you did in a course? Did the professor seem to always take his/her sweet time posting your grade while all your peers insensitively complained that they got Bs, when you had an anxiety attack that maybe, just maybe, you were given a C? Do you remember leaving class remembering nothing about the new material the teacher was introducing in class because she promised she would return yesterday’s test at the end of the period – and the end of the period not coming soon enough was all you could think about? Have you ever arrived late to class only to find out that a quiz was conducted, and you are penalized for your tardiness? What about forgetting or misplacing a quiz sheet?
“QuizStar makes it easy for instructors to create quizzes online, administer quizzes and organize results.” Teachers (click on Instructors Site arrow), when it comes to grading, you can rather effortlessly give feedback the same day as the answers are assessed immediately after students take the test online. When it comes to civics and honesty in test taking, a satisfied teacher, Theresa Soloman says, “I think QuizStar works because each student gets different questions. They could be sitting next to each other and not have the same exam.” Quizzes can be designed to include many question and answer formats: true/false, multiple choice, maybe even asking students to show proofs. You can control which students have access to which quizzes you developed, and students will begin to be expected to be responsible for deadlines, as you already are being flexible by letting them work on their own schedule. Grading of quizzes occurs automatically, and you can generate reports on class standings, individual standings, and get general snapshots and statistics of feedback on your teaching effectiveness.
Students (click on Student Site arrow), you “can continue to work on either untaken or started quizzes.” Just be cognizant that the teacher can set time limits on a quiz. It is possible to see your results and scores, to take and review your quizzes. Similar to something you will be doing later on in life – paying credit card bills, or ordering things online – you are offered a summary of how you answered, what you left blank, or what you told yourself to look at again, prior to submitting your quiz. There is still time to change your answers! Another good thing about this website is that you (the student) are not left alone in the cold to just jump into a quiz. If you need any help navigating the website, there is a help button at the top of the page.
It’s reassuring to teachers, students and parents alike in that the website does not give user information out to anybody. Although, users are told in tutorials to always practice caution: remember to log out when you are done, and especially remember to read the teacher’s instructions on the quiz. Quizstar is a good time saver, eliminates the need for paper, and a very accurate black-and-white assessment of how one is doing – whether as a teacher or a student.
Prolonged use just might begin a beautiful friendship with technology.
