Pretests and reviews
Pretesting performs a number of positive result, especially if there are prerequisite involved.
The class I typically teach has two prerequisites, and we have found that a student review can refresh information and processes that haven’t been performed recently. The students are given time to answer the questions, then they are given time to work in small groups. The last step is to review the questions by randomly calling on groups of students, one group at a time to answer the review questions. The review packet is long and the process takes about four hours to complete. It consists of about sixty questions with multiple answers and provides students with a good way to determine what they need to work on.
Gerald, I like this idea. This will help students continue to build on previous knowledge in the course. I oftentimes notice students forgetting information from previous topics within a course as well as information from prior courses or failing to understand the importance of carrying information and utilizing it in future courses. I think your concept will keep them on their toes and keep the desire for knowledge fresh on their minds
Gerald,
This is a great strategy to use since it keeps the students on their toes in terms of knowing all of the parts. This way they will be able to talk about the one they pull out and share this information with their classmates. Thanks for sharing this idea with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At the school I teach at we have a group acitity call 'box of parts" In it we have parts that students will learn about over the term.Students pull one item out and tell the class what if anything they know about that piece. After completion I explain to students that they will know what each part is and it`s function
Ethel,
Thank you for these comments about the value of using pretesting as an instructional strategy. I use pretesting in all of my courses so I can get a read of my students and plan my instructional delivery more accurately.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Giving pretest has always been a method used by my instructors as a student myself. I really appreciated the opportunity to know what I was to focus on so that my outcome of testing would be great. Knowing that I use reviews and pretest for every subject their outcome doesn't only effect them but me as their instructor alike. I want the outcome of the students to build their confidence levels and their intellect.
Pretesting is a great tool it help no were each student is in the subject matter and the teach style you may need to impelement.
Patricia,
I think you will like the results you get from pretesting. I have been doing it for a number of years and it has worked great for my instructional planning. By getting a baseline on them I can customize my approach and get them started off from the beginning of the course with a level of understanding and confidence that will help them be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Pretesting is such a great idea! In the logic course I teach we learn Latin terms for fallacies, and so on, and at first those terms really bewilder students. But if I begin the course by using a pre-test or "advanced review" guide with them as something they can put notes into, they can step by step reduce the bewilderment and actually take credit for their own learning. I am convinced!
Consuala,
This is the reason I use pretesting in my classes. I like to have the baseline because it helps me to target my content on the specific need areas of my students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Pretesting is a great tool to get a baseline on students ability,which will then help in instructional planning.
Elinore,
I like your can do attitude in relation to helping students be successful. I use pretesting for all of my students so I know how to customize the supports they need to be successful. Having this baseline is valuable because the students know that their instruction is based upon where they are at in terms of competence.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I wish we utilized pretesting more in our school. They have to take entrance exams to get in, but I feel they are not hard enough and we have students that do not kow how to write properly or do simple math equations. Makes it very challenging for us, but we make it happen! I make sure to spend extra time with those students. I do not want to send them away, I want to be that person who shows them how to complete these tasks.
At my school a student may take a prerequisite and then wait up to a year before they take the next course in that sequence. Pretesting is the only way for me to get a good baseline on where the students are and where to start teaching.
Angela,
This is the value of pretesting and this is why I use them in all of my courses. I get a baseline on the current group of students and I can do my instructional planning from that information. I find that I am much more accurate with my content selection as a result.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kenneth,
I am a big fan of mnemonics and use them a lot in my classes. They are fun and easy for my students to learn. The most fun comes though when we have our mnemonics contest where the students share those they have made up. They get crazy but the students remember them and that is what is important.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to use "mnemonics" as a pretest to gauge background, to introduce new concepts and break the ice and to review the material covered. In this way I try to keep the material both interesting and relevant. For example the mnemonic
"Memory" represents:
Marketing yourself and present or future firm
Explanations of material
Methods involved
Other views of the facts or law (paralegal class)
Results of process
Your skills and background
I like to use "mnemonics" as a pretest to gauge background, to introduce new concepts and break the ice and to review the material covered. In this way I try to keep the material both interesting and relevant. For example the mnemonic
"Memory" represents:
Marketing yourself and present or future firm
Explanations of material
Methods involved
Other views of the facts or law (paralegal class)
Results of process
Your skills and background
PreTesting is truly an aid in our program. each class is a pre req for the following class and a lot of times students tend to dump the info after passing the class. I use pretests to show them not to dump anything because they will just be building upon the information/knowledge they just acquired.
Davina,
I think you will like the results you get from pretesting. I get a baseline that helps me to select where I start with the material and how I am going to present it. This really helps me to get my students engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
