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Using Multiple Choice Questions to Assist Learning for Information Retrieval

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Book cover Teaching and Learning in Information Retrieval

Part of the book series: The Information Retrieval Series ((INRE,volume 31))

Abstract

A key issue in teaching and learning in information retrieval – particularly for library and information science students – is the gap in prior knowledge compared with the need for mathematics to conduct and evaluate searches. In this chapter, we examine the use of online Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) to support these types of students, and narrow this gap between experience and knowledge. We provide some background in terms of related work and the use of MCQs for assessment. The key areas of search which can be supported by this form of assessment are defined, and a proposed strategy for designing question sets in order to support learning is provided. The key contribution of this chapter is the strategy for designing MCQs by taking educational theory and marrying it with key concepts in learning for search.

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Correspondence to Andrew MacFarlane .

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MacFarlane, A. (2011). Using Multiple Choice Questions to Assist Learning for Information Retrieval. In: Efthimiadis, E., Fernández-Luna, J., Huete, J., MacFarlane, A. (eds) Teaching and Learning in Information Retrieval. The Information Retrieval Series, vol 31. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22511-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22511-6_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-22510-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-22511-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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