Pretests - A Tool for Learning Transportation Engineering

The authors have been continuously fascinated by the role of pretests in improving students' learning.Pretests have been well recognized as a valuable tool for the assessment of educational objectives.In the SP 08 semester, pretests were used as a tool for learning the subject in a transportation engineering course.The students were encouraged to make handwritten notes during the lecture.There were three pretests in the course.The final examination contained conceptual questions, including design on transportation engineering subject.Except the handwritten notes, no other sources including text books, electronic versions, or xerox copies were allowed to the students during these examinations and pretests.In a survey conducted by the authors, students reported that the pretests gave them several chances to study the subject in addition to paying careful attention to the lecture.They indicated that they got the opportunities for learning the subject before the lecture, after the lecture and just before the test.This method was compared with a control group class.A statistical test was conducted to establish significant improvements.The result of t test confirmed that the pretests are a powerful tool in learning the transportation engineering subject.