Go through quizzes and see what the commonly missed questions are

[moorepants]

There are a few questions the students don't get. In the chapter 10 quiz the first question is a bit tricky because one incorrect answer seems pretty reasonable, it just isn't the exact definition in the book.

It could be worth looking at all questions that are missed and asking why. It is possible the questions can be adjusted if they are ambiguous (but not if the students just aren't reading).

[moorepants]

@clayfanatic Would you mind running through these before spring break?

[clayfanatic]

Questions not listed received above 80% correct responses.

• Week 2, CH5 and CH6:

  • Q1 most missed with 62% correct, latent needs definition question. - (32% answer) was a plausible distractor.
  • Q3 2nd with 79% correct, specs definition question; -next highest was (12%)- possibly replace question, probably confusion related to "what" vs "how"

• Week 3, CH18:

  • Q2 49% correct, number of Gantt chart tasks (50-200) - next highest was 38% (10-20) - I don't think students start their Gantt charts with at least 50 tasks on the Gantt chart day (which was why I made the question.) Probably remove the answer or replace question.
  • Q3 62% correct, feature creep definition question - next highest was 24% (continuous improvement) - which is a plausible detractor. This is likely a word they've heard before, but it refers to new work after a project has finished or product is launched - and is usually done to reduce costs. I would not change the question.

• Week 4, CH7:

  • Q3 77% correct, functional decomposition definition question (materials, energy, and signal). next highest was 15%, decomposition into (mechanics, fluids, heat transfer, and electronics). - this is a plausible distractor, I would not change the question.

• Week 5, CH8:

  • Q4 61% correct, (not a) methods caveat question. All other answers were picked equally (13, 14, and 13 %). This question might be confusing because it reads as like a double negative (pick the non-caveat). Possibly replace the question.
  • Q2 72% correct, ranking method with relative score question (vs sum, ordinal, empirical survey). Next highest was (17%) weighted sum and is a plausible distractor. The weighted sum is used later in the method. This question was updated from last year to specify we are doing the concept screening phase, I am unsure if the results are better.

• Week 7, CH10: -note, quiz scores were overall lower. Note, 1 week gap in quiz, and it is possible that students had read the chapter a week prior.

  • Q1 50%, chunks definition question - similar definition- Remove option 3 "The parts, components, and subassemblies that ultimately implement the product's function."
  • Q4 54%, incidental interactions figure selection. - about equal choice (18 and 24 %) for the functional decomposition and grouped functional decomposition diagrams. I am assuming there is confusion as to the definition of "incidental" because the other two picked options also display some kind of interaction (Material, energy, info).
  • Q3 71%, functional sharing pick an example. - (19% answer picked) answer describes component sharing across products. I propose not editing the problem as this is a good plausible distractor.
  • Q2 72%, slot, bus, and sectional modular. - updated from last year, and received better score from last year. Possibly select alternative examples.