I have been using pretests for years. I find it very valuable to both the student and myself. Every class is different, so my teaching is different. I am fortunate that I have not fallen into any ruts, even though it is the same material. I deliver the same content, but differently each class.
Dale,
I have used pretesting for years for the reasons you list. Having this information helps me to customize my instruction for the currently enrolled group of students and that results in a higher level of engagement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have use pretest,it does give the instructor and students a baseline.It allows the instructor to remind my students of the importance of attending class prepare each day for lecture. This has worked very well as a motivation tool.
Shantana,
A big fan as well because I get a baseline on my students from which I can target my instruction as well as activities. Pretesting lets me know where to start with the current group of students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Alwyn,
I have used pretesting for a number of years and really appreciate how the information can be used to guide me during my instructional planning and delivery. A valuable resource to have and use if it fits into your instructional structure.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I do pretest on a regular bases and it works wonders for the students and me since it lets me see where they are in the big picture.
I love the pretest method; I have been using it for the last two years, and I am able to see the growth of the students as the semester ends.
Michael,
It is a win win for everyone as you mention and this is why I use them in all of my courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You are correct in that the use of a pretest is really a great benefit for both the students and instructors.
Carolyn,
This is a good way to show students how far they have progressed in the course as well as gives the instructor insight on how well the content is being acquired.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At one point we actually used the pretest and then at the completion of the term we compared the results to the post-test or final.
Susan,
Whether you have them put their names on the pretests or not is strictly up to you and how you use the results. Your comments about how you use the results illustrates how having their names on the pretests help you with your planning. The suggestion about not putting their names on the pretests is based upon some students not feeling comfortable with taking a test the first class meeting. In my classes I use pretests with and without names depending on the students I have at that time. So continue with using your professional judgment and you will do fine with your pretest results.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I was reading the part of the lecture about not asking the student to put their name on their pretest. I can look at the class as a whole and determine their needs, without having their name on their tests, however I prefer to know each student and their needs. I don't give them the option to not include their name on the pretest. I feel like I have a better determination as to if I need to include "earlier content" in the class.
Geary,
I use pretests in my courses for many of the reasons you have listed here. The results let me target my students more accurately because I have a baseline from which to operate. In addition, the pretests give the students insight into what they will be covering in the course and what is considered to be of value in relation to content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A pretest in the second year of college students actually provides insight as to what the students have learned up to the pretest. As a department head this gives me insight as to what information is being taught by fellow instuctors. I get more insight into the instructor's understanding of the topic and what the instuctor believes is important. I have learned on several occasions that instructors are failing to provide the needed information for second year courses. pretest is an important tool to determine if instructors are teaching a test or teaching material needed for the career.
Regina,
I use pretests in all of my classes for the reasons you list. I get a very good picture of my current group of students as a result of pretesting. I then can select my instructional approaches to target my students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Melvin,
I think you will really like the results you get with using pretesting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Pretest is a really useful tool when you have a classroom with different backgrounds and different age groups as well and I think that pretest set a tone in the classroom to have students to start to think on the same level and I think that can help to build confidence in their studies. One might be great in certain aspects than the other but the pretest can bring a uniform atmosphere in the classroom
