Pre-testing adults
For a Technology School, pre-testing adults is a touchy situation. If the pre-tests are too hard then you will loose a prospective student. If the pre-tests are too easy they may be setting them up for failure.
Ron
Hi Kathleen:
There are a lot of uses for pretesting, understanding where the students are coming in at is one of them.
Other uses are determining improvement at the beginning vs. end of a class, assessing learning style, comparing different teachers testing style and performance, and identifying where adjustmenys to the existing curriculum may be needed.
Regards, Barry
I agree that pretesting helps the instructor get a view of where the students are and how the class must be customized.
Hi Richard:
Knowing the level ogf preparation and in-0coming knowledge is useful for both student and teacher. Planning adjustments based on overall class performance is one benefit to the teacher. As you indicate, the opportunity to work with individual students also exists.
For the student, the "previews of coming attractions" can be a motivator and may assist with their planning as well. Also, comparison of pre-course vs. post-course performance can be facilitated using this activity.
Regards, Barry
I've found most students or all ages like the class pre-tests since it gives them a sense of what they have to face when real ones are given. I calmly explain that these don't affect their grades but help me understand what I can do for them. They aren't being tested on what they don't know so much as what they could or should know to start this class, and if their are gaps I am going to spend time helping to bridge them. (And conversely one knows virtually everything necessary then I'll individually discuss whether that person's knowledge extends far enough beyond to consider testing out.)
Occasionally a student decides he or she isn't anywhere near ready, which probably saves us a lot of grief, although I'll sit down and discuss the matter with them before they drop. Sometimes that changes their opinion, and usually once they focus and realize I'm there to help them they do okay.
Hi Alphia:
This hope may occur, and that would be a good thing.
To me, pretests help the teacher plan for how to best teach their class, emphasizing more important topics basede on pretesting results.
Regards, Barry
I think pre-testing gives the student hope that they have the chance to be successful especially if they had a decent score on the test.This can be a motivational factor to a student who have the perception that he cannot be a success at anything.
Hi Ron:
A good way to approach this subject is by not grading the tests, and letting the students know that in advance. The teast doesn't have to be comprehensive, just enough to get a general sense about where your class is as a whole. And, the results are really for you to assess where you can best help them learn the material. Maybe you need to put more emphasis in one area and take some away from another. In the end, the pretest provided some helpful insight to you providing a better class.
Regards, Barry
