Ask the expert: Pre- and posttests measure whether education sinks in
Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, April 24, 2009
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This week, Adrianne Avillion, DEd, RN, provides tips on how to measure learning.
Q: How can I make sure that my staff actually process and learn what I teach them?
A: Just because nurses loved participating in a particular program doesn’t mean they actually learned anything. Therefore, how can you efficiently and effectively measure learning? To demonstrate that learning actually took place, develop an objective before-and-after approach. For example, if you use a written test as the measurement tool, ask learners to complete the test before and after the learning activity.
When preparing written prep and posttests, consider the following:
- Hand out a multiple choice test. These tests are the easiest to grade and also have the advantage of being objective, while essays, case studies, etc., require significant subjective analysis
- Avoid multiple component answers. These are test items that give choices such as “all of the above,” “none of the above,” or “a and c.” There should be a correct answer for each question.
- Keep true and false questions to a minimum, if at all. These are not the best indicators of measuring knowledge.
Have a question for our experts? Email emailing your queries to Editor Cameran Erny at cerny@hcpro.com. See your name in print and get the answers you’re looking for.
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