So I am in my last semester of nursing and it has been a complete mess but we have all been powering through it, until now. Que the midterm......we asked her specifically what content is on the midterm (we are doing psych and maternity this semester) she told us that we will not be tested on postpartum complications, antepartum complications, or intrapartum complications; only normal labor and delivery but low and behold.....complications are on the midterm. These are chapters that were not even assigned as reading but yet there are more then 10 questions from these chapters on an 80 question midterm. I was just wondering if this is a valid thing to bring up to the dean and if we have a leg to stand on. I mean 10 questions is a big deal when they are each worth 1.25 points and you need a 77 to pass the course.
Just to clarify yes we this semester does cover complications but these lectures are not until post midterm and the lectures are not until after the midterm date. In the syllabus these topics of complications are not testable material until exam 3 which is in 2 weeks so they should not have been asked about on the midterm. the midterm covers days 1-12 and the complications of pregnancy, delivery and newborn care are not covered until days 14-19.
I wonder if the content was moved from prior semesters, and the instructor reused an old test without checking? It sure sounds like it. First and foremost, the best evidence-based standard is for educators to perform statistical item analysis after an exam. If this is not happening in your program, why not? If it did, the items not covered would be thrown out when they perform poorly. I would begin by calmly asking the instructor about the items that should not have been on the exam. If that fails, then approach the head of your department (Dean, etc). Follow whatever process is laid out in your student handbook.
My program runs those statistical analysis, and even when half the class gets it wrong, they do not adjust. it is merely for their information. We know this because we have exam reviews and a question will stick out where the faculty will say something like "almost everyone got this one wrong" and yet...the question didn't get thrown out. I def think the above about the content being shifted and the exam re-used is a definite possibility. If that is the case, definitely discuss with the faculty in charge of the content (I'm assuming your program is like mine, where different nurse instructors teach different sections) - no one likes having a student go over their head and straight to the dean or the coordinator. Go up the chain of command.
My program runs those statistical analysis, and even when half the class gets it wrong, they do not adjust. it is merely for their information. We know this because we have exam reviews and a question will stick out where the faculty will say something like "almost everyone got this one wrong" and yet...the question didn't get thrown out.
It's not quite as simple as what percentage of people got it right/wrong. I am certainly not an expert on statistical analysis of test questions….however, they also look at who got it right and who got it wrong. For example, if 2/3 of the class got an item wrong, but the 1/3 who got it right were among the top scores in the test, then it was just a hard question, but a valid one. OTOH, if 2/3 got it wrong and the 1/3 who got it right otherwise did poorly on the the test, that question might not be considered valid.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
It's not quite as simple as what percentage of people got it right/wrong. I am certainly not an expert on statistical analysis of test questions....however, they also look at who got it right and who got it wrong. For example, if 2/3 of the class got an item wrong, but the 1/3 who got it right were among the top scores in the test, then it was just a hard question, but a valid one. OTOH, if 2/3 got it wrong and the 1/3 who got it right otherwise did poorly on the the test, that question might not be considered valid.
They also look at what wrong answer was chosen. So if the 1/4 who got the question correct, had the highest scores and consistently do well it's a valid question. They look at the answers chosen incorrectly. If A was correct, and of the 75% incorrect students 33% picked B, 37% picked C, and 30% picked D it's still a valid question as it implies those who got the question wrong chose randomly. But of the 75% wrong answers 65% chose C, 20% chose B, 15% chose D and C is close to the correct answer it may require further analysis and subsequently be discarded as an invalid question.
Line item analysis is complicated at times. Just because the majority got a question wrong is not necessarily indicative of an invalid question.
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
Talk to your instructor, ask her to go through the exam with you. Explain that you and your classmates expected this material to be tested on later in the quarter. It may have been an error (reusing old test where course moved at a different pace) or perhaps there were reasons for her to expect the class to know this material.
If you were supposed to know the material and didn't, this conversation is a great time to check in with your instructor about keeping up with the class and why you are/are not getting things.
If this was an error instructors really appreciate the chance to fix it themselves and discuss with students directly rather than finding out there was some sort of issue in their class via a call from the dean. Now, if it is a legitimate error, you've discussed with instructor on more than one occasion, and still nothing changes - then approach the dean.
kvyates
6 Posts
Just to clarify yes we this semester does cover complications but these lectures are not until post midterm and the lectures are not until after the midterm date. In the syllabus these topics of complications are not testable material until exam 3 which is in 2 weeks so they should not have been asked about on the midterm. the midterm covers days 1-12 and the complications of pregnancy, delivery and newborn care are not covered until days 14-19.