Math teaching demands pretesting even if I think I know the student skill levels.
I want to focus better on strengths and weaknesses.
I also want the students to know the results and ask them to validate them when i speak with them individually.
Hi Quesstonnal:
Good. Among the many benefits of using pretests is the ability to plan for a specific group of students that may have been different from the previous or upcoming group. Students may also feel inspired to see how much they're going to learn in that session of class.
Regards, Barry
Pretesting give instructors a base assessment of each student's skill level and allows for better course planning.
Hi Jeremy:
You've described a good use for pretesting. As a planning tool, you can assess then integrate the needed information they're supposed to have into your regular lessons.
Regards, Barry
Hi Robert:
Skill testing is kind of of a special category. Yet, if students don't have the practial skills they need for class they will be limited in how you can advance their learning.
Some teachers will gathers students with special or certain practical needs into a group and the teacher or a more advanced student can work with the weaker students to bring them up to speed.
Another version is to have students demonstrate specific skills, then have the class critique or give suggestions. Practice is the best teacher with manipulative skills. So, extra practice assignments might be in order. Pretesting will let you plan these needed activities.
Regards, Barry
Hi Tensiha:
Good! Pretesting gives the students a preview of what they are going to learn, and often can be a great motivator when they are initially unfamiliar with some aspect of the course but then go on to master it. It can be a great motivator. It helps both the teacher and the student.
Regards, Barry
The courses that I teach are highly technical in nature (in an interior design program). It's not unusual for me to find students lacking in some necessary skills that are needed for my courses. Often they are "supposed" to have already learned those skills in previous classes, but there are a variety of reasons why they might not have gained enough comfort in the previous classes. So now they could struggle in my class as well, unless I notice this early and slow down or review in order to fill in where necessary. Obviously a pretest can be a good way for me to determine the level of each group of students so that I can do the review before the course gets too far along and the student(s) get frustrated or behind.
Hi Kim:
Yes, and also pretesting can assit the teacher in the planning for current and future classes. Students are often motivated by how much progress they are able to make in a course or topic they begin knowing little about.
Regards, Barry
I teach a culinary practical class and find it very difficult to pre-test my students. Organization, knife skills, knowledge of basic cookery should all be learned by the time I recieve these students. If I pretest my students and find out that they do not have these skills, what do I do?
I believe a pretest can help instructors in a multitude of ways. I know that in my culinary classes, I have given several pretest to see which instructors students have had in the past. I can tell this information just by certain questions that I ask in the test. This helps me to understand who laid the students cooking foundation and how by modifying my teaching style I can build a higher and more solid foundation for my students. Giving pretest helps me to also get a better understanding of what the students have retained so far and determine if there are any subjects that I might need to review.
Hi Jeris:
Your post suggests a very benificial use for pretesting. It can also be useful for students to see the previews of coming attractions! Depending how it's presented, this can be a real motivator.
Regards, Barry
A pretest gives you the current ability of each student. Each student moves through the course at his/her own speed. Early assessment assists in understanding that each student is at different levels of education and experience.
I like to use pretests as a guide for what to focus on in class. I look at the most common trouble spots and plan to focus on those areas first.
Hi Sarah:
I think you've offered a great example as to one of the benefits to providing pretesting to students. Great!
Regards, Barry
In our school sometimes the students take our courses out of sequence. By pretesting them we can determine which cooking techniques and content to review or introduce before delving into the advanced concepts we want to progress to.
Hi Mark:
With no penalty for trying, pretesting is a great way for students to self evaluate their existing knowledge and, as you point out, gives you ann idea where to set your emphasis for the class.
Regards, Barry
I ask students how many remember their science courses in high school or college as a prelude to discussing the syllabus on day one. My Environmental Science class is often a mixture of memories about science class. My course is not specifically detailed and I could begin in any chapter of the text. Pretesting could help remove some of the guess work I do; know that my students have proficiency in reading and writing would also help he structure evaluation criteria. So pretests are a great idea for my mixed bag of students.
Hi Kathleen:
Pretests come in all shapes and sizes. In the online classroom, there numerous ways a teacher could apply the concept of a pretest such as lists of terms that will be discussed, key concepts that contribute to the lessons, or even previews of information that's likely to be tested later on. Really, not so different from the on-ground environment.
Regards, Barry
Unfortunately, in the online environment we really don't have an opportunity to require students take a pretest. If it is not in the curriculum then it is not required. However, it would be very helpful to know where people are in their program, their sophistication with the field in question and often very important is whether or not they are currently working. This can create issues with many of the projects in the coures I teach. Using pretests would also help to identify comprehension levels of assigned tasks and ability to analyze. Kathleen
Hi Klaus:
Good for you. These lessons are only beneficial if they make sense to you. Good luck.
Regards, Barry
