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E-Learning Challenges
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Using Pre-Test Activities to Tailor Content in E-Learning #206

DavidAnderson's avatar
8 years ago

Pre-Test Assessments in E-Learning #206: Challenge | Recap

Pre-tests are a common learning strategy designed to access learners’ prior knowledge and skills. Pre-tests taken at the beginning of the course and can be used to tailor content by allowing learners to skip over material they already know.

Based on the pre-test results, learners can:

  • Skip over an entire lesson
  • Jump to a specific point within a lesson
  • Take a custom learning path with only content they didn’t pass in the pre-test

We don’t see pre-tests used a lot in corporate e-learning either because they're unnecessary or more work than they're worth. Regardless of why they're not used, pre-tests are something course designers should know how to develop. And that’s what this week’s challenge is all about!

Challenge of the Week

This week, your challenge is to share an example of pre-tests and how they can be used to customize or personalize content for the learner.

This week’s challenge is more advanced that normal. You’ll need to work with variables to evaluate the pre-test results. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you get stuck or want someone to review your files.

Extra credit: Please share your source files if possible. This is a tougher topic but it’s one that also generates a lot of interest. Sharing source files is never required to participate in the challenges. And most times we get more than enough examples. I’m only mentioning it this week because of the topic.

Last Week’s Challenge:

Before you test your advanced Storyline skills in this week’s challenge, take a look at the slide-tastic examples your fellow community members shared in last week’s slider challenge:

Using Sliders in E-Learning #205: Challenge | Recap

Wishing you a great week, E-Learning Heroes!

New to the E-Learning Challenges?

The weekly e-learning challenges are ongoing opportunities to learn, share, and build your e-learning portfolios. You can jump into any or all of the previous challenges anytime you want. I’ll update the recap posts to include your demos.

Published 8 years ago
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53 Comments

  • Thanks for all the wonderful ideas and examples this week. This was a tougher challenge, but your demos are some of the most practical examples for showing how pre-tests can be used in course design.
  • SandraLowe's avatar
    SandraLowe
    Community Member
    These are great examples. I have created a similar type of course we call "teach me what I don't know". We offer up the questions and if they get it right, they proceed to the next question. If they get it wrong, they are provided content. It helps when you have a broad audience ranging from beginner to expert.

    I have a challenge here though. I have a client that would love to use a pre-test option but there would also need to be a post-test for users that can't pass the pre-test. Two tests in a single course. The SME wants to know if the user passed by taking the pre-test or the post test and what their score was. Since I can only have one results slide communicate with the LMS, what's the solution?
      • SandraLowe's avatar
        SandraLowe
        Community Member
        Thanks David. I have put it out there. I recently presented my multi-test example at the St. Louis Storyline SIG and then had this deeper level issue come up at work. It's an ambitious possibility that my management likes because of the potential metrics you could gather from it. I'm looking forward to what folks may say.
  • AndreaMandal's avatar
    AndreaMandal
    Community Member
    It's my first e-learning challenge!
    https://360.articulate.com/review/content/7e147838-1a43-4117-bfb8-15aeeb3ea2cd/review

    I've created a course on one of my favorite subjects: flu prevention. The pretest is accessible right from the beginning of the course, but may be skipped if the learner just wants to view the material.

    If they pass with 100%, they can exit the course (and receive credit, if taken in an LMS) but if they do not pass, they must view the course material. The View Course button also resets their score so they can take the test again when they are ready.

    Learners can view the sections of the course in any order they choose, or just view one or two sections, and always have the option to test again after they review a section.
  • Super excellent, Andrea and impeccable timing as we are in flu season! I loved the course.
  • AmanVohra's avatar
    AmanVohra
    Community Member
    Hello everyone,

    In this sample, I have used Adaptive e-Learning approach and tried to explain Original Blooms Taxonomy and Revised Blooms Taxonomy in two lessons.
    In the beginning of lesson one, the user has to answer three knowledge check questions that are relevant to the lesson.
    Lastly there is final exam that contains 2 topics and 6 individual questions, that uses custom variables to send the final score/completion status to the LMS using JS.

    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/adaptive-e-learning-sample-sl360-aman-vohra/
  • Hi all - This is a variation of a vocabulary review lesson I worked on a while back. There were about 50 words with 6-8 possible definitions for each one. If you clicked that you knew it, you were tested to be sure you did. If you got it wrong, it became part of the lesson. Needless to say it was a bit long for this purpose so I swapped lots of words for a few pictures. Have fun!

    https://360.articulate.com/review/content/ebea34cd-4933-4ad5-a1dd-ddba1f218cdf/review