What is it?
Consider the pedagogical aspects of assessment tasks with time limits. You should think about what your time limit is, is it realistic, and why you have it? Is it necessary? We often may think that students with mastery of a topic will solve problems faster. But the studies don’t bear this out.
Impact
Studies show that:
- Slower response times correlated with higher accuracy on test questions, showing that students will perform better when taking more time to answer questions. So if you are looking to assess students’ mastery of content, you should be providing ample time on tests and consider activities without time limits. Timed tests reward quick thinking instead of the kinds of methodical thinking we often say we want.
- Severe time limits increase the performance gap between slow and fast readers, students who speak English as a second language and native speakers, men and women, older and younger test takers, and students with and without disabilities. These performance gaps are lowered, disappear, or even are reversed when the time limits are eliminated.
So remember to provide sufficient time for all students to complete their tests thoroughly. Making tests shorter or dividing them into sections separated by breaks administered over multiple days benefits student performance by improving student engagement, reducing test fatigue, and decreasing pressure.
Dos and Don'ts
- Consider the appropriateness of time limits you impose on course activities
- Familiarize yourself with methods of adjusting time in Canvas
How-To
Need More Help?
You can always book a one-on-one consultation, visit one of our ed tech labs, or email cat@temple.edu for additional assistance!