In freshman-level large courses we typically use multiple choice questions for exams. Here I describe a post-exam analysis that students can do for a completion grade and thereby benefit from thinking through what they missed on the exam. They can work with anyone else and use their notes. Students are asked to analyze upto 5 of the questions they got wrong on their multiple choice midterm exam 1, and they earn a few completion points. They do so after the exam is released, so they can see the problems they got right/wrong with the correct answer choice marked. In physics, students often develop misconceptions that can be difficult to catch unless they examine their errors, hence this method is quite effective in helping the student realize where they went wrong and why. It also helps them to see how to study more effectively for the next exam. Many students who do not do well tend to not analyze their mistakes unless you offer them points for doing so.

More Details