By Dave Quinn, Platinum Educational Group
We want to take a moment to highlight an essential aspect of test creation in EMS Testing that has been frequently discussed in recent review sessions. Many instructors have shared concerns that some test questions seem too challenging for students just beginning to learn new topics, resulting in lower-than-expected scores. We are optimizing test difficulty: adjusting Bloom Levels for EMS Testing.
Upon reviewing test data, we found that Bloom’s Taxonomy levels are often left at their default settings, meaning all Bloom Levels are enabled. This may introduce higher-order thinking questions earlier than intended. Bloom’s Taxonomy is a classification system used to define different levels of cognitive learning.
It consists of six levels, ranging from lower-order thinking skills such as Knowledge (recalling facts and basic concepts) and Comprehension (explaining ideas or concepts) to higher-order thinking skills like Application (using information in new situations), Analysis (examining relationships and patterns), Evaluation (making judgments and justifying decisions), and Synthesis (constructing new ideas or products). To ensure students are assessed at an appropriate difficulty level, we recommend unchecking the higher Bloom Levels until students are ready for them.
To help you optimize your test settings, we encourage you to review the Bloom Level options and adjust as needed.
If you require further guidance, our team can provide training or support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
