In the couple of courses I teach on a regular basis pretests are used as part of the curriculum which seems to work in a positive manner by allowing them to see examples of the types of questions and how they are formatted so when it comes to the actual test for a grade they are able to better prepare themselves in their study techniques.
Bronzel,
For sure, the more we know about a students prior learning the better we can plan, prepare, and make the most progress towards assisting our students with understanding important class material.
Barry Westling
I love using pretesting methods. They allow me to set up mini goal for my adult learner. The adult learner comes to school with much more on their plate thin the conventional student. So setting up smaller amounts of materials gives them time to study and to continue theirs lives. I live by the mantra of inch by inch life is a cinch. Yard by yard you make life very hard. So far it has worked every time.
I like the idea of working in essential points that one wants to get across in the course. Doing that and maybe add some easy and hard questions to round out and gauge the level of the group.
Stephen,
I don't always pretest, but when I do, a good place to start is by examining the course objectives and even daily objectives, since it will be from these that graded testing will originate. I will choose about 25-30 essential points that I expect students to master by course end. If 2/3 or more of the class answers a question correctly, that tells me I can probably spend a bit less time on that category. As a pretest, I don't assess skills, nor do I consider visual, auditory, or tactile learning traits. And since I don't grade pretests, I have not found students to feel discouraged.
Barry Westling
How long should a pretest be and should you test all levels of knowledge, or will having high level questions just discourage most students?
Steve
Allen,
I believe review is never wasted. It either informs, clarifies or reinforces what is known. And repetition can always strengthen a students recall -- think how we all learned the multiplication tables in grammar school.
Barry Westling
using as pretest works wonderful. I use it for couple of reasons. I use it to assess how the students are when it comes to the knowledge base they have from other similar classes and also as a learning tool as some of our students might not have had a similar class in a while and need the info as we go over the pretest....
Roberto
Pretests provide information about prior knowledge.
Barry Westling
yes that way you prepair to see how the student are doing in the and what you need to do to get them in the rigth truck also is good to be prepair if you have to change that way you teach or to aproch to the students.
Mariann,
Yes we all hope to be able to reach students. The pretest can help by identifying prior knowledge, at least in part.
Barry Westling
Kathy,
I don't always do pretests, but it's one method to get information about prior knowledge. Gearing lessons to closely match student levels is more likely to result in better retention and desired learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
It gives you knowledge about where the students backgrounds are and how to better reach students.
Taiya,
Great strategy. Often, even the whole class can be less than fully informed about a segment of instruction. Understanding where students prior knowledge is can be a great time saver.
Barry Westling
I agree that the idea of a pretest will help determine what background skills and experience the class may have. My class has a variety of backgrounds and ages. Those details I gain will help me shape my lesson plan better to address their specific learning needs. If over 50% of the class has medical knowledge I can usually move a little faster and set up mixed groups for worksheet group work. If only a small amount have that background or are younger and don't have life experience to draw from, I have to add to my lecture more of the basic knowledge.
I agree. this can be helpful in grouping students with more knowledge and less knowledge so they can work together as a class and have better overall outcomes.
Eugene,
I don't always use a pretest. But it is helpful in situations where time is limited and the emphasis is uncertain. Knowing where more or less emphasis may be needed can be a real time saver.
Barry Westling
A pretest will demonstrate to the instructor areas of common weakness in fundamental areas of learning, such as math skills, written project skills in punctuation, grammar and sentence structure. As certain areas of the course come into view were you noticed similarities in areas and the lack of aptitude I would be able to prepare other or additional projects and study materials that would help them master the material that they would otherwise have done poorly in and cause slow downs working towards other sections of the courses which they needed to be proficient in first from which further knowledge would be built upon.
Frank,
That's how I use it, and I think the benefit is found when revelations about prior learning are discovered.
Barry Westling
Using the pre-test helps to determine their knowledge of some of the curriculum you'll be covering in the current class.
