If z pre-test is given at initial start--this will help the instructor pace the instructionfor the term or semester--and time would be allocated for toward the material the students really need to know!
It allows you start at that knowledge level and bring them to a point of excellence.
Hi Richard:
Good use of pretesting. Information about the students, information for you to use for planning; information for students to get motivated about what they already know or will be learning. Win-win!
Regards, Barry
Using the information from the students introduction day when they give a brief discription of themselves, pretest can indicate the method they learn the material. This also helps me reevaluate my presentation of meterial for every class.
Hi James:
Good point. Helpful to both student and instructor. Sticking to the objectives will assure the essential material is being assessed too.
Regards, Barry
Pretests are a good way for assessing the level you need to approach them regarding course content. Make sure all of the items in the test are truely reflective of the objectives you want to accomplish.
Hi Robert:
Glad you were able to benifit from the advice!
Barry
Hi Lydia:
Yes, and they assist the teacher by planning where the weaker students are going to need help. Students also can be motivated when they take a "non-graded" test, and may be surprised about how they actually already know about a subject. So, it's a good deal all the way around.
Regards, Barry
Laura,
Is there no way to pretest physical skills?
Robert
Thanks Barry,
I think that is an excellent idea and a way to pretest skills. I do have to keep reminding myself that the culinary field has so many options for employment that don't even require knife skills. But at the same time....because I teach a Restaurant Practical class that those same skills will be required in use but maybe not in perfection.
Robert
Pretests help in determining the students level and understanding to the topic/course.
Hi Robert:
I think there's a difference in skills testing and cognitive (paper and pencil) testing. It seems an initial way to pretest a skill is to just demonstrate it. After several demonstrations, have individual students try their hand. No harm-no foul, no grade or criticism. But that'll provide you the opportunity to observe who'll be your super stars and who you're going to have to watch with those knives!
Regards, Barry
Hi Barry,
I like to know as much about my students, (academically) as possible. My class is not just studying, reading, assignments etc. but a practical class which requires knife skills and coordination. How can an instructor pretest for a class like mine?
Thanks, Robert
Hi Kevin:
Cool. Pretesting can do a lot for the teacher and the student to benifit the learning process.
Regards, Barry
Hi George:
In for profit schools, student numbers rule. It's not so much an issue but just a fact of life. Not going to solve that situation here.
As to your question, it seems like pretesting could help define the 1, 2, or 3 areas a student is very wek in and concentrate on just those areas (I understand they'd be responsible for the regular course work as well). Any progress made would claimed a victory towards helping that students even if they fail the course. As teachers, we want student to learn. If it's only a small bit at a time, at least we are doing something, albeit minor.
Regards, Barry
I would love for our sschool to conduct knowlage pretest for skills we have students who have never woked in kitchens to thoughs who have years of experiance
Assessing incoming background knowledge, skills, and attitudes gives a baseline of what the instructor has to work with both as assets and as issues to cope with and hopefully overcome. Over the last year as I have been doing this I am having more and more students that are unable to read. Approx. 1 out of every 50 students. I asked "Kevin" after the pretest if he had anyh trouble reading, he replied, "I don't read so well my girlfriend is trying to help me. My heart sank. Supposedly, incoming student were to pass a basic (very basic) reading and writing competency to enroll. I teach advanced courses towards the end of the program. This student never got the feedback and help he needed when he was in grammar school. This problem I cannot fix. To date students with severlyh deficient skills are made individual instructors issue to deal with. Our recruiting and admissions have changed in the last few years. Do you find this to be a wide spread issue?
Hi Ricardo:
Right. Assists planning and may remove some of the anxieties associated with a class.
Regards, Barry
Hi Frederic:
When beginning a class most students are curious what to expect. We can tell them information, but pretesting tells both teacher and student something about the level of the class and some of the planning that may be needed for successfulness of strong and weaker students.
Regards, Barry
A pretest can give you a good guide map as to what the students know or don't know thereby making it easier to plan your lessons on the level of the students
