The Pre test
Students need to understand the pretest is not intended to seth them up for student but rather help[ guide them to what shoul be studied
I have pretests after about 3-4 days. We do it in class and follow up with in-class answers and discussions about the material on the test(s). I use it to measure what the class knows-or doesn't know-after my lectures. They keep it as a study guide for the real test, and I've found it gives them a good feeling about their own progress. After a few of these practice tests, students start to look forward to taking them. They have become an expected--and appreciated-- part of the course.
this is especially useful in online learning courses so that you can readily adapt new material to students who may have greater prior knowledge of the subject.
I am also a proponent of the pre-test. I believe it is important to assess the knowledge of the student to keep them from being bored going over old material or confused by skipping basic material and continuing on.
Cheyney,
Have you ever encountered a situation where multiple students did not perform well on the diagnostic test? If so, how did you proceed with the remainder of the course?
Tremayne Simpson
A pre test is usually my first course of action because it will determine the speed at which I can relay information in the class.
Susan,
You have raised an excellent point. Since the students do not take the pre-assessment seriously, what other assessment types have you implemented, in order to gauge their subject-related knowledge?
Tremayne Simpson
I have the same problem. The minute I mention pretest, the students are all set to circle A, B, C or D without even answering the question because they know it does not count against them. I explain that it doesn't count against them but it helps me to understand what knowledge they already have and what they need to learn. They still finish a 60 question pretest in 10 minutes.
Diane,
Explaining why a test is used as an "assessment" can eliminate some of the perceived test anxiety that may be experienced by the student. Also, the students can feel that they class is "prescriptive" to their individual learning needs.
Tremayne Simpson
I agree. When I give a pretest, I emphasize that it is not a test but a tool to give me information so that I can structure the class in a way that will be more beneficial to them.
If we explain the purpose as we do with other activities, pre-test are may not be a threat to a student.
We do the same thing. We will give the same Pre-test after all the material is covered as a pop quiz so that the students can see their own progress.
I have used a pretest for my students to assess what knowledge they have of a subject prior to diving into the content of the course. I find that even when I state and reiterate that the "test" has no grade, the students freeze and worry that they are "dumb". Trying to find out where they stand can be difficult...trying to know the starting point for a class without making the students anxious is a feat. It seems that the amount of time I wait to give the assessment test does not stop the anxiety. The students seem to go blank and fear doing poorly.
I agree that a pre test can be an excellent tool to help understand the students' prior knowledge and competencies but I also find that it causes them a lot of stress on the first day of class. I usually wait until the second class when they are more engaged in the subject.
Pre-test have helped me either before or at the end of class.
This has always been one of my fears about giving pre-tests and why I have not done it so far. I need to find a way to make them take it seriously while knowing it is not going to have a huge impact on their grade. They should get credit for taking it but not necessarily graded on their correct answers. I can see how this, if done properly, can be very beneficial for both instructors and students.
I agree with you James. It's good to remind them how they have progressed over the term and see potential areas for more study before moving on to new material.
I have found the pretest to cause unnecessary anxiety for my students. I prep the pretest with the idea that it is intended to understand prior knowledge but the students remain anxious and argumentative.
The students need to know that we are measuring their knowledge and not trying to set them up for failure. Many students are anxious about taking tests adn could be upset about taking extra tests. I know though from my own experience of doing pre and post tests it is a good way to really measure what is learned for both the teacher and the student.
James,
I agree. In order to show growth in a course of study, a student must be assessed via the tool. The slightest change in the assessment question or content, can deter the overall measurement of the student's skill levels.
Tremayne Simpson
