Eric,
Super! That's one of the best uses of pretesting - planning. Student don't mind, and if they're not graded, may even feel challenged to to their best. Also, a post test can be compared to a pretest to help motivate and show clearly where improvement or advancement has occured.
Barry Westling
Pretests help me gauge at what level my students are entering the class. That will then help me to adjust my instructional plan as needed.
John,
Well, I don't have statistics, just experience. We expect some students will get most of the answers, and most students will get somne of the answers. The information all students get correct needs less emphasis, and that which most students miss will need more emphasis. That's what my "experienced" mind tells me.
Barry Westling
Is there a set number of questions that you should use that only the top students (advanced) may get (to challenge them) and a set number or percent that everyone should get...as well as a set number that "most" students should get? I've heard this from a co-worker in a PhD program and wanted to learn more. I use a pre-test and think it is valuable, but by no means have I gotten this "statistical" in my approach.
Kelly,
Yes, pretesting can help the teacher plan to what degree information is (or isn't) needed.
Barry Westling
One of the ways a pretest can help is by helping you use your time wisley. If you see an area that students are struggling you can spend more time on that area, if you see an area that the students are already doing well in you don't have to spend as much time on subject.
Warren,
Me too (avoiding "test"). I use "assessment", "check for understanding", or "self evaluation". I know these words have other, more traditional meanings but my students quickly learn what I mean when they are used.
Barry Westling
Ralph,
Good. Another way to look at or use pretests is as a examination review (preview). It's not like there is some secretive information we're trying to hide, rather, we want to know to what degree the students have learned.
Barry Westling
Ian,
Great strategy. Pretests, like any resource, is a tool, and can be modified to fit the occasion. I think you're idea is creative and the results you're seeking attainable.
Barry Westling
Francine,
No names - not a bad idea. What we want is information for planning purposes, not individual student performance. The down side is sometimes sharing a students pre-test with their post-course perfornace can be encouraging. Doing the pretest as non-graded also helps students participate.
Barry Westling
I don't like to use the word "test", scares people. I like to do both written and oral "questions" about what they have already been taught and what they expect to learn from my class.I think creating a "fun" atmosphere lets students be more open about what they know and don't know.
It can help me gear the lectures and demonstrations to a level where the students can be comfortable. The pretests also helps you to know where your students compared to where they need to be upon the completion of your class.
As a tool to gauge the students I find that pretesting fails. However I DO pretest. I have two primary reasons for pretesting - the first, is to show the student that their is room for them to grow. And secondly, to acclimate the student to how I test and grade.
Typically my "pretest" is an activity where they have to create something - in this way they can understand what I am looking for without risking their grade, and they also understand their potential to learn.
Michelle,
Perfect. Like a journey, we have to have a defined destination before we can head there. So it is with class material. And the pretest can help define the destination.
Barry Westling
Yvette,
Good points, and effective reasons for pretesting. Everyone benefits.
Barry Westling
Pretests can help the instructor recognize or identify specific areas/content that might need more time or different delivery in the classroom. I would always suggest that students can submit these tests without their names so there is no fear of embarrassment.
Pretests are helpful because they help you to determine what level you should teach at. You may expect your students to know a lot more than they actually do. It will do neither you or them any good to teach at a level that is out of their reach. At least with the pretest you can determine their knowledge level and design your course around that.
I usually use the pretest for two reasons. It shows me how read the chapter as well as if they understand what they read and if they grasped what was lectured.
Edward,
This sounds great. One big outcome of pretesting is getting to know what your students know and also getting to know them as individuals.
Barry Westling
My classes tend to be from a wide diversity of backgrounds that have been out of school anywhere from a few months to many years. I use pretests early in the semester to identify week points in the students capabilities so that I can concentrate on those for the first few days. Group study speeds things up and helps break the ice a little. Once everyone is on the same level, we can safely proceed into new material.
