It is my litmus test to see where the class is overall (after heavily suggesting to read assigned chapters) prior to skills lab. It also gives them an overview of the content to be covered.
Shawn ,
Right. Why spend time on material if students already possess it, when that that time could be better spent on another, equally important topic they need. It's about emphasis.
Barry Westling
It will show you what your students already know and you can base your lessons on their knowledge level.
Know where the student stand lets you know where you have to start teaching. It both helps you and the students to not have to do any do over what they know or to help with what they have not learned.
Carlos,
I use pretesting to help me prepare myself to help my students. I can save time by putting emphasis where it's needed.
Barry Westling
It's allows us as the instructors to evaluate where the students stands as far as their professional knowledge and skillnstatus
David,
I think what's good about what you do is the one-on-one discussion you have with your students. This time allows you to learn about your students and get a sense about how you help individual students specifically.
Barry Westling
Kellie,
Give it a try. You may have to make several edits before you find a version you like, but when you do, the results will be worth the effort.
Barry Westling
Being a fairly new instructor, I m still working on the format to be used in "pre-testing" my stsudents. Curently, I ave them fill out a form I madethat shows me not only the students long-term career goals, but also asks about what the students back-ground history is. I follow this up with a one-on-one meeting to "discuss" the current termso that I canrefine what i have found out by using theform.
I have not used this tool before, but I think its a great idea to asses where your students are. I plan to use this in the near future.
Hayvelises,
We want our students to understand and grasp the information provided in our classes, and we do that by presenting couse material we feel is appropriate. By pretesting, we can determine if more or less emphasis may be needed in certain topics or content areas.
Barry Westling
Using pretest or quiz at the begining of a new course will allow you to establish method to that can provided good information of weakness areas on the student.
David,
Sure, and by doing so, we save valuable time that can be better spent on areas of instruction that the class as whole can benefit from.
Barry Westling
by pretesting the students you know which areas of instruction will require more attention and which areas of the material should require less attention.
Michelle,
There are many ways, methods, and versions of what constitutes a pretest. The good thing is an instructor can decide how comprehensive and to what degree a pretest is constructed.
Barry Westling
Lisa,
Yes, when we speak of engagement, we need to provide activities that the student is capable of performing.
Barry Westling
Ronnie,
Great. Planning for classes is improved when an instructor has knowledge of a students prior learning.
Barry Westling
Richard,
Perfect!. Any techniques like these that promote benefits to to students is at least worth a try.
Barry Westling
Dawanna,
Yes, and not only issues, but clarity about what to expect, how to begin to prepare, and for the instructor to be willing to make needed adjustments in the order of topics.
Barry Westling
I had not thought of using a pretest at the beginning of a class to gauge where the students are but I believe that would be helpful. I plan on doing this at the beginning of my next class.
