A pretest provides the instructor with an opportunity to assess the students' knowledge of the course content. This information is very useful in helping the instructor prepare for the course. If the test results reveal average or advanced knowledge the instructor may decide to include supplemental material to maintain attention and ensure that there is appropriate student learning. If the tests reveal limited knowledge the instructional plan can be altered appropriately.
Hi Howard:
Great. I do something similar. Both student and instructor benefit from this activity.
Regards, Barry
I have not utilized the pretest, but I am thinking to include it in my next term. The course is 5 terms. I have taught 3 of the 5 terms. Sometimes the students are the same from term to term. Using a pretest will validate where the students are in the course and give me a starting reference.
Hi Marina:
I agree your process works because I do the same thing, although not necessarily every term. But when I do, I learn information about students that help understand what areas I need to emphasize and where I can back off, as applicable.
Regards, Barry
Hi Thomas:
Great variation on a theme! I do think there are time a pretest can used without angst. This is when I know little about what student know, and create a short "toe in water assessment" that has no point value. When students know they won't be graded, they will often feel more comfortable "taking a test".
Regards, Barry
Hi Jeff:
Great!. I think pretests also can be segmented into smaller bits. That is, one area of math can be pretested prior to it's delivery, and knowing where to place emphasis can end up saving a lot of time.
Regards, Barry
I typically teach more advanced classes and have used pretests in the past with success. Pretests have helped me determine what subject matters I will need to focus on during class. At our college classes are only six weeks long and are heavily loaded with subject material (sometimes too much). Using a pretest allows me the ability to tailor class time to spent more or less time on a subject matter depending on the overall class performance on pretests.
Sometimes I use " reviews " , not pretests. I'll hand them out the first day of class and explain to the students that if they study to find the answers to the review questions , they will have a good understanding on what the actual test will entail. I " DO NOT " review the study guide with them , that is for them to do on their own. To me , this is what separates the students , the ones who want to do the work and should be rewarded in grades. I teach accelerated classes so there is no time for anything but a review of all materials before the final test. I have found that " pretests " seem to get the students nervous and anxious , so I hand out the review and they have time to prepare , their nervousness is not as bad if they know what to expect.
Hi Lori:
I like that bottom line: Getting to know your students, because ultimately that is the best outcome from pretesting, in my view.
Regards, Barry
hi Lamarr:
Both gauge where the students are in their understanding, AND, possibly help you create a more effective lesson plan.
Regards, Barry
Hi Isaac:
Also, these tools may give you an idea of how your students learn best, which can help you make more effective lesson plans.
Regards, Barry
Pretests are a great way to get to know your students. By having students take a pretest and submit a preliminary writing sample, it helps the instructor to analyze the amount of knowledge of the subject material a student body has upon entering your class. It also gives the instructor an idea of their vocabulary and writing skills.
Hi Kurt:
Perfect!. This works for teacher colleagues too if they're involved in peer or classroom observations.Also, retesting to show how far students have come can be very motivational.
Regards, Barry
Hi Robert:
Great! I think one great benefit for me is when I'm unfamiliar with where or what the students know (such as at the beginning of a new section, topic, or term), I'll do a pretest to give me information, and also give the students an idea of what might be ahead for them.
Regards, Barry
Pretesting can help a teacher revise lessons to meet the needs of a particular student group. If certain students do very poorly, the teacher could recommend some additional study to shore up inadequate background knowledge. If the class responds correctly to certain learning objective questions, the teacher can use that information to either devote less time to that LO or approach the LO at a higher cognitive level.
The pretest also sets students' expectations since they get an idea of what will be covered during the next lesson or unit.
A pretest is a great way to determine the background knowledge and skills of the students. Armed with this information, you can tailor the course and methods of instruction to fill the gaps and maximize your student's opportunities for learning.
Kurt
Since most lesson plans and syllabi must be created prior to the start of the term, I try and email and introduce myself as soon as I get my roster for the upcoming term.
It is important to "pretest" in order to get a sense of the class culture for the term. Every term is different. The earlier you can pretest, the better. So, if you need to alter the lesson plans and syllabus, you can.
A pretest will help you to familiarize you with your students and their knowledge of the course to be taught.
I have never really thought about using this until I just read about it. I think it would help both the student and the instructor. It would help the instructor by giving them a heads up of what the knowledge base of the students. It would help the students because then the instructor would be aware of what they know and she could adjust her lectures.
Pretesting helps me as an instructor in several ways. I can ask questions that help me determine learning styles of students. I can also assess the students' backgrounds so I can use them later for a pool of examples. I can even find out how much the students already know about each general section; that way, we can alter the time spent on it or I can "recruit" student teachers for various activities.
Pretests help students to see what we're going to cover in the class and let them see that I am interested in them as people.
