• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.283-307
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• 2010

In this study, a new open-ended format math testing system for elementary school students has been proposed. This system is an application of the recently proposed Constructive Multiple-choice Testing (CMT) system on math testing. The CMT system is a testing system in which the examinee has to respond to an item twice, first in an open ended format, and then in the multiple choice format. The advantages of this system is that process information can easily be obtained and that the examinee can receive feedback immediately after the test, based on his/her multiple choice responses. This open-ended format math testing system includes the manager mode, which allows the generation of the test items and student account management, and the testing mode, which allows the students to input their solution process using the menu bar and the keyboard. When two groups, one tested using the CMT system and the other tested using the paper and pencil test, were compared, there was no significant difference in average scores between the two groups although the testing time was longer for the group tested using the CMT system. This result suggests that the open-ended format math testing system proposed in this study can be used effectively in the actual classroom setting.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.627-653
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• 2010

The present study proposes and examines a new type of multiple-choice math test. In this format, the options are the intermediate derivatives of the math problem solution process rather than the final answers. This idea originates from the studies on the effect of worked-out examples. In these studies, it has been shown that students learn better when they were presented with worked-out examples than when presented with final answers by themselves. In line with these findings, we introduced the intermediate derivatives of the solution process as the options of multiple-choice items so that the test-taker will have a chance to examine the solution process. The test was implemented as a computerized test in which students can solve problems in a short answer format, and then pick a multiple-choice option which appears when requested. The experimental group had multiple-choice options which were intermediate derivatives of the solution process, and the control group had the final answers as the options as in most multiple-choice tests. The participants were 6th graders in elementary school. The posttest results revealed that the average score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. The results suggest that tests that use intermediate derivatives of the problem solution process as options can be used as learning tools in the classrooms. Finally, directions for further studies were discussed.