From Stems to Distractors: Crafting Better Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) In-Person / Online
Join us for an engaging and practical workshop designed to equip educators with essential skills for crafting effective Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). This session delves into the principles behind well-constructed MCQs that accurately assess student learning. You’ll explore techniques for writing clear stems and plausible distractors, aligning questions with learning outcomes, and balancing cognitive difficulty. We’ll also discuss ways to integrate meaningful feedback, minimize bias, and promote inclusivity, ensuring that your MCQs are both fair and impactful. By the end of the workshop, you’ll gain the tools to refine your MCQs and create assessments that genuinely enhance student success.
Upon completion of this learning experience, participants will be able to:
- identify the characteristics of well-constructed multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that effectively assess student learning
- describe the characteristics of high quality stems and distractors in MCQ design.
- differentiate between higher-order and lower-order cognitive skills in multiple-choice question design
- evaluate whether MCQs are aligned with a set of learning outcomes
- discuss the importance of balancing difficulty levels in a set of MCQs for fair assessment
- describe the role of feedback in MCQs and ways to integrate it effectively
- explore ways to create MCQs that minimize bias and promote inclusivity
- revise flawed MCQs to improve clarity, fairness, and alignment with learning objectives.
- Date:
- Wednesday, September 10, 2025
- Time:
- 1:00pm - 2:00pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- CTLI Rm W206G (Main Library, 2 West)
- Audience:
- Educator Network In-Class Educators Online Educators Quality Matters
- Categories:
- Community of Practice Community-Engaged Learning Curriculum Development Inclusive Pedagogy Designing Courses Educator Networking Educator Onboarding Evaluation & Assessment Hybrid Session Improving Courses In-person Session Online Programs Online Session
The in-person location for this session is: the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Please join us in the Main Library, Room W206G. For directions to W206G, please visit the Room Locations page.
Please join us for any of the upcoming Assessment Lab: A Week of Design, Feedback, and Innovation offerings!