Hi Maria:
Pretesting isn't needed in every class or every time. It works best when it's unknown at what level the students are beginning the class with. Based on the inforamtion provided, adjustments in what will be needed to be emphasized is much clearer. Like anything, it's a tool that be beneficial at the right time.
Regards, Barry
Hi Carol:
Seems like you're using this teaching strategy effectively and appropriately.
There are many ways pretesting can help teachers. In the end, it'll provide information, save time, improve learning, and make for a more enjoyable class overall since the emphasis will be focused on needed information more than repititious material.
Regards, Barry
Hi Lisa:
I think pretests can be valuable, but are not necessarily needed for every class every time. When they're needede is when it's beneficial to know at what level the class as a whole is performing. Also, comparison between first day and last day analysis can be interesting and reveal trends that might not otherwise be noticed.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jennifer:
Pretests: Great, good example of the type of class where pretesting can extremely valuable. One area that student performance varies a lot is with math related topics.
How nice to be able to know where more or less will be needed in a class thus minimizing wasted time on unneded material or misplaced emphasis. Of course, all objectives have to be met, but some topics can benefit with more emphasis while others can do okay with less.
Regards, Barry
Pretesting will help the instructor understand the students' knowledge base. The instructor and give more background in the subject as needed or work ahead a little faster if the class appears to have alredy mastered the beginning portion of hte course.
I find pretesting to be very helpful at the start of my pharmacy calculations class to evaluate my students knowledge of basic math. I can then determine how much time I need to spend reviewing basic math skills before entering into new material.
Hi Eon:
Pretesting can be valuable when it is unknown what level your students performanance is. Sometimes, kit doesn't matter, as the course is going to proceed a certain way reagardless (such as an introductory....anything).
For maximum effectiveness and avioding wasting students time with material they already know but may need more emphasis in another area, pretesting can be a life saver.
Not saying it's needed in ervery class. Just when information about existing performance is unknown or desired.
Regards, Barry
Hi Pandora:
I believe pretests can be extremly valuable.
I agree that if possible, students should be informed about the level and difficulty of a course, and I think most students are at least willing to try. Sometimes, even under the best of circumstances and selection, students have difficulty and require extra time, tutoring, or assistance with certain ideas or concepts.
It is here that pretesting can be of value. These don't have to be lengthly or time consuming. How valuable it would be if a teacher knew that class time didn't have to be spent on one topic, but as a group, most were weak in another category. The shift in emphasis would be helpful. Wouldn't that be nice to know?
As a student cenetered instructor, we want to be able to tweak our curriculum to best match student learning stlyes, levels, and abilities.
I don't think pretesting needs to be done in every class or every time. But it's value cannot be disputed when it's determined a teacher wants to gain some insight as to where their students are currently performing.
Regards, Barry
Personally, I do not like the idea of using pretesting as a planning tool. Students are pretested before entering the course. Each student is told that the course is accelerated. At this point he/she should be aware of their competency to keep up in the course. There is only so much time alloted to complete the course. Pretesting will only hinder the instructor in completing the course on time. This is a grave injustice to the other students.
Pre testing in my view is a very valuable tool because, it helps you find out what is the comprehensive level of students. Also it gives you an azimuth check on what direction you will need to take students during the course.
Hi Heather:
I think you've defined a very good reason for pretesting.
Others have compared first day to last day performance and analyzed how nthat compares to past classes.
Teachers can also measure their own performance in a similar manner. Of course, all course objectives have to be met, but pretesting can provide some insight into what areas may need more (or less) emphasis.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jennifer:
Pretests can be fairly accurate in defining categories where students may need additional study or emphasis, so they can be a big help for teachers in tweaking their curriculm in order to better serve their students.
Comparisson of first to last day performance can be an interesting analysis, ans also give some indication of the effectiveness of teacher delivery performance too (compared to past classes).
Regards, Barry
The student's responses to the pretest will tell me generally how deep I need to go in the material. If all of the class has done well with the pretest in one subject matter, I do not need to spend as much time on the subject and allocate more of the freed up time to a subject that did not pretest well.
Hi Carl:
Yes, and if done at the beginning of a class, there can be changes to where the course emphasis will be and avoid wasting a lot of time on unneeded attention.
Of course, all the course objectives have to be covered, but pretesting can shorten the span between how much time is spent on a subject if the students are already familiar some of the material.
Regards, Barry
Pre-testing is a great way to determine if the students are understanding the lesson which you are presenting and also see where they stand.
Hi Tiffany:
Pretesting can assist in some classes, although some classes it's not needed as the instructor knows at waht level their students are at, or the class makes doing a pretest awkward or impossible.
Comparing fisrt day to last day analysis can be an interesting experience with pretesting also.
Regards, Barry
This tool will allow you to see where you need to focuse on more with your students.
It is a great tool to gauge student's learning from the material given.
I really like this teaching strategy because it gives the instructor insight on the areas to focus on in the lecture. It also provides information on the student as to whether they have experience in the topic or whether they have read before they came to class. In our program, students are given a pre-reading assignment and we give the pre-test to see if they have some idea of the content of the lecture.
Hi David:
Perfect example of the benefits and usefulness of pretesting in a specific course. Also, I like the idea of using students as helpers and using them to assist less IT literate student some of the "basic" activities. Builds good camaraderie too.
Regards, Barry
