How to use and write multiple-choice questions

This is an online course taking place from March 11th to March 25th, 2024.

The overall objective of this course is to apply research-based recommendations to design effective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and to reflect on their use to support learning.

Week One will mainly focus on:

• the potential of MCQs to support learning
• research-based guidelines to write effective MCQs

Week Two will mainly focus on:

• possibilities and limitations of MCQs to target higher-order thinking skills
• advantages and pitfalls of generative AI (BingChat Enterprise specifically) to assist in the writing of MCQs

This is a fully online course, taking place asynchronously in Canvas. Weekly materials and activities with their corresponding deadlines for each week will be available on Mondays. The expected workload for participants is 4-5 hours per week.

Additionally, there will be two optional online synchronous sessions – one at the end of each week, lasting for approximately one hour (times decided at the beginning of the course). These sessions are reserved for open discussion and will not be recorded.

The course is activity-based. Participants are expected to participate and complete weekly activities to put into practice the topics introduced in the course. To pass the course, participants are expected to complete all activities. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a formal certificate.

Target group

Teaching staff planning to introduce MCQs in their courses or staff who are already using MCQs but would like to rethink their use and applications in teaching and learning.

Intended learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Plan the use of MCQs to support learning.
2. Write MCQs following research-based guidelines and targeting higher-order thinking skills.
3. Critically approach the use of generative AI (in particular BingChat Enterprise) to assist in the writing of MCQs

Workload

10 hours

Deadline for registration

06/03/24