Long Story Short: Using Current Primary Literature to Generate Scenario-Based Question Sets

Abstract

Creating new assessments in biology courses for every student cohort is difficult. To address this issue, we build assessments around scenarios we write that are inspired by current primary literature. Here, we describe how to find source material for scenarios, how to write them, and how we use scenarios together with their associated questions in the classroom. Students responded positively to scenario-based question sets on tests, as survey respondents reported reduced test anxiety and increased appreciation for real-world applications of course content.