Poster #21 - Developing a Tree-Thinking Diagnostic Test to Assess Individual Elements of Representational Competence

• In Event: 79.052 - MTCC Poster Session 19
  In Poster Session: 79.052-2 - Educational Measurement, Psychometrics, and Assessment Poster Session

Abstract

Learners use visual representations in multiple manners that are often not consistent with how expert scientists would expect. To better prepare instructors how to facilitate learning with visuals it is imperative that assessments exist that can accurately capture thinking behaviors and representational competence. Unfortunately, many diagnostics tests that exist for biological concepts either do not assess representational competence, have not been tested for reliability or validity, or require too much of a time commitment to administer realistically within an instructional setting as a formative assessment. We have developed an 11 question assessment that has been tested for validity and reliability using appropriate psychological metrics.

Authors

• Carrie Jo Bucklin, Southern Utah University

• Kristy Daniel, Texas State University - San Marcos

• Zachary Nolen, Texas State University - San Marcos

• Louise Mead

• Kristin Jenkins

• David Baum