Pre-Testing as a Method of Conveying Learning Objectives

Teaching methodologies involving student pre-testing have been used in K-12 education for a number of years. Although pre-testing has been conducted in some collegiate classrooms, there have been very few studies published regarding the effectiveness of the concept. This paper reports the results of a study in which one Introduction to Aerospace class was given a pre-test at the start of each unit of study, while a second class received a list of specific learning objectives at the start of each unit. The post-test unit test results of the two classes were then compared. The results of the study indicate that pre-testing may be a very effective means of communicating course expectations to students.