Brezita,
Good idea. Pretests primarily help teachers plan their coursework to match the degree of pre knowledge students begin their classes with. Modification based on student performance occurs from there.
Barry Westling
A pretest can help measure true learning, by comparing pre and post test, it can help me as a teacher generate ideas for future lessons.
James,
Good! The post test is just as beneficial as the pretest. It shows growth, improvement, and of course, the dgree of learning that has (or has not) occured in a class.
Barry Westling
Scott,
When students pretest, they are getting a "preview of coming attractions". This may stimulate interest or turn students off. Either way, it conveys upcoming expectations, and I believe students always do better when expectations are known in advance.
Barry Westling
Qadar,
Great! And this describes the benefit of doing pretesting, among other reasons.
Barry Westling
I like to use a pretest and a measuremnet for the class. It will guiode me on what to spend more time on and what the students already know.
I also use the pre and post test to measure student learning and growth.
I teach more advanced diesel classes and have used pretests in the past. Our pretests have helped me determine what subject matters I will need to focus on during class. Using our pretest allows me the ability to focus class time on a certain subject matter that the students may be struggling more in.
Pretest works well for me. I teach Computers to Medical Assistant and Medical Billers and Coders. I get students with no computer background and they won't tell you. So, to find out those group, I give them a pretest on the first day of the class. This way I create a balance, in the lecture, between the computer literate and illiterate, without embarrassing them.
Assessing their level of knowledge and skills.
Candace,
Those teachers who journalize nearly always find they benefit from notations and comments they've made. Reflecting on the past gives great insight to growth and improvement as teachers.
Barry Westling
I have not used pre-testing in my classes, but I think it is a great idea and will incorporate it into my plans.
Patricia,
This questionnaire provides information. Taking it a step further, a pretest might be to see where common or likely weak areas may be present in order for you you to plan more (or less) emphasis in a particular area.
Barry Westling
The first day of classes, I ask my students to write down something of their background and why they have decided ti go back to school. Their papers give me tremendous insite. My students range from 18 to 65 most of the time and the backgounds are varied. By sharing, the beginning of a team has begun.
VIRGILIO,
Great. Perfect use for the pretest. Sometimes I'll use the same test as a post test at the end to motivate students, showing them how far they've come.
Barry Westling
Angela,
This is the perfect use for pretesting. It helps the teachyer plan where and what to emphasize based the the individual class which, as you say, will vary from class to class.
Barry Westling
When I teach a new class of students, I normally conduct a pretest to see what kind of skills each has and the extent of their knowledge. This way,I determine the course content and the phase I must use to teach these students.
I very frequently use pre-testing either written or verbal to tailor my teaching to the class level, being in vocational training we see a wide variety of students, and class to class can vary based on our student base.
Paula,
Relating to to the students and adapating the class to the individual students makes for an imnproved learning environment.
Barry Westling
Paula,
Right. We can measure whats needed to assure we meet the course and student learning objectives.
Barry Westling
Wonderful !!! Adjuncts are about to come into the facility as well and I am appreciative of the insight.
