The retention benefits of cumulative versus non-cumulative midterms in introductory biology may depend on students' reasoning skills.

ABSTRACT: Assessment has long played an important role as a measurement tool of student mastery over course content. However, testing has also been shown to be an effective learning tool. Cumulative testing, in which all material from the entire learning period is covered, has been assumed to be effective, yet few studies have explicitly tested its effectiveness compared to non-cumulative testing. Studies in psychology and mathematics courses suggest that cumulative final exams increase long-term retention of information, and cumulative testing during the semester can increase cumulative final exam performance and long-term retention. Because frequent testing has also been shown to increase student learning, the purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to investigate the effects of cumulative ver

SUBMITTER: Bailey EG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8062001 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature