I have used pretesting as a way to break the ice with a class and gauge their knowelge in the subject, it is an effective tool
This technique can give you some information about the class as a whole relating to their general knowledge base. This can assist in developing presentation methods targeted towards the weak areas and other mthods to enhance the strong areas.
pretest are a great way to understand each student and to understand thier skill set for the class.By doing pretest up can determine a plan for that srtudent to keep them on track.
I have not used pretest in my class but one of the courses I teach has an electrical review. I do this on the first day to see just what the students know already and it also gets them thinking about the subject again. They see where they may have trouble.
I think that I may start to use a pretest in some of the other classes because it would give me a better idea of how much they have retained from their previous courses.
It can help me see the level that the students are starting. I also give the same test as a posttest so that they can see how they have improved over the course.
Pretests are an essential part of what I do when I teach English courses to adult learners. Many of them struggled with English in high school, or many of them have not been in an English class for several years.
The syllabus is clear on what needs to be covered and in what timeframe, but in doing a pretest, I am able to evaluate where the students are and how I need to approach the material. In all honesty, it gives me a level of flexibility in my instruction in terms of meeting the needs of all my students that I would not have in its absence.
To me it is a way to base line the students knowledge that they built in the prior class, as we are a institution based upon the fact each class is a progression from the previous these pretests shows us how much they have learned and what needs to be retaught.
While I pre-test my students for my courses to determine the best starting point and speed for instruction, it seems that more rigorous testing before instruction even begins would serve the students and the institution better. Teaching in a career college I notice that there is almost no pre-testing done of prospective students before they are matriculated. This leads to higher rates of student attrition and having students in class who probably should be focusing on more basic education.
i have a lot of students from very different backgrounds. Pretests help me determne where I need to focus my lectures nad how best to deliver the content.
I really enjoyed reading about all the pretests that are being utilized, it is definitely a versatile methods for assessing several aspects of teaching, learning, and knowing your students.
Pretests are becoming a standard item upon entering most educational programs followed by a post-test at the end of the program to follow the learning progression.
A pretest develops a baseline from the student of their knowledge of that particular subject matter. It is a starting point and gives direction to areas that need to be strengthened.
This pretest will guide you in the right direction to reinforce the information the students need, and the information they know. This is very helpful if the school puts someone in your class that has a prequ, and didn't take the right course. I always pretest the first week after intro the the subject.
Hi Michael:
One thing pretests can help to show you is what kind of learner your student is, which can help make lesson planning more effective.
Regards, Barry
Hi Daniel:
To put that another way, the pretest may show you what kind of learner you have and make lesson planning more effective as a result.
Regards, Barry
I have not used pretest before but I like the Idea. It would give you a firm foundation to start from.
Hi Dennis:
Another thing pretests are great for are that they might allow you a chance to see what kind of learner you have, which can make for more effective lesson planning.
Regards, Barry
Hi Nutisha:
The nice thing about knowing a learning style before hand is that it helps make lesson planning more effective.
Regards, Barry
The pretest can be an asset to instructors as well as the students to assess an important material or concept that is being taught and learned. This way instructor can evaluate and adjust teaching methods that points out the strong and the weak areas.
Are you so closely monitored as an instructor that you can't just give the pretest and you work it from there?
