Pretest
Research that I've read on testing shows that students do better with more tests. I offer students a pretest for every class session. The pretest/study guide is similar to the graded test and it helps students identify important information from the text before they attend class, know what kind of information the instructor uses for testing, and helps relieve pressure form students with test anxiety.
Roxsie,
Good! Pretesting is a great tool for the teacher to use for planning and pinpointing where emphasis is (or is not) needed.
Barry Westling
I really like the idea of the pretest it will be a great tool for planning.
Christopher,
If it's not graded (or very little) most students don't mind the activity of testing. But we can amass tremendous amounts of information to help us plan current or future classes from what we gather.
Barry Westling
I think that's a great idea. I've noticed that my students tend to get frustrated during topics that build of other topic. Perhaps if I pre-test them on the material that was previously reviewed it would give them the refresher they need.
Lynne,
This post test can be a real motivator (depending on how much improvement has occured). We use a proprietary pretest to determine readiness for a heavy science/math based program. It seems it can predict success for high achievers, but for performers in the mid range, it is less predictive of successfulness.
Barry Westling
my department uses pre and post tests within our curriculum and although the students are stressed about taking an "unannounced" test, they are suprised to realize how much they have learned at the end of the course when they take the "post test". Then they feel successful!
Lynne
Hi Tim,
Good variation of using a pretest in the instructional process. Often we want to use a pretest to see what a student knows. You have used it for that purpose and involved it it in the grading and course expeactations. That's great!
Barry Westling
Hi Jim,
Sure, it's really a simple idea. I take the course learning objectives to get an understanding what I want the students to leave the class learning. I might write out say, 20 mutiple choice or essay questions, with each question touching on a key or course teaching point from the class, something that a graduate of the class would be able to answer. Analysis of the results will likely show me something like (for instance), everyone (or more than a majority) missed question 3, 7, 12, 13, and 14 and 20. Examination of the category these questions fall into suggests that more emphasis may be needed in these content areas as the class progresses. As more emphasis is put here, perhaps less time needs be spent on areas where most of the students already performed at least staisfactorily.
This is a version of student centered learning, where the teacher tries to individualize or customize what needs to be covered in a way students understand. It differs from curriculum-centered (where we dish it out in our way and at our rate, and the students either sink or swim). This is just way someone can approach pretesting - there are many variations and techniques. Good luck!
Barry Westling
Yes, for my courses students learn new concepts and vocabulary. It is a must that they read the text and attend lecture. The pretest is a way for them to search for pertinent information in the text and when they come to class I facilitate a discussion from the answers they find. I give them an exam every two weeks over the information they cover in the pretest. Same questions, but only 30 out of the 100 they are given.
Could you walk me through what you do in a pretest. This is a new concept for me and I've never seen it before.
Jim Parker
Hi Clive,
I think one cool thing about students being pretested is it gives them a preview of what may be coming up in the class. Although I recognize some students may say "ugh!", more responible students may be likely to say something like "way cool!"
Barry Westling
Pretest helps both the instructor and students with evaluation. Pretest evaluate the students so that the instructor understants their strong and weak points. It help the student understand how much they know or don't know and help re-enforce paying attention.
Hi Marvin,
Right. Adjust, adatptation, modification - just like in the real world of work. When customers, clients, patients, or patrons are concerned, we have to serve them, just as teachers, we serve our students as customers, trying our best to provide the best learning experiences.
Barry Westling
Hi Tim,
Great. I agree with all you've said. When students know they won't be graded (for the pre-test), they are often more willing to try their best, and it does give them some insight into how a test may look like, level of difficulty, style, depth, etc. Of course, the biggest benefit ius to the instructor to determine what areas may need more (or less) emphasis.
Barry Westling
I can see how this method can help with the test anxiety, as well as a pre-assement for the up comming course objective. here is where you can adjust your lesson plan to suit your class needs.
