1. Creating Comparative Links to compare responses to pre- and post-test questions Gerald Bergtrom, Ph.D. Learning Technology Center University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee October 2005 Edited by Tanya Joosten, Alan Aycock, Susan Gifford

2. In this tutorial you will: Create a pre-test S&R to assess mis- and preconceptions slides/discussion of topic content Create a post-test S&R to assess learning (resolution of mis/preconceptions) Establish a Comparative Link between the two S&Rs before & after polling students. These before & after responses are graphed, allowing for instant, formative assessment of learning.

3. Why Comparative Links? It is often fun to challenge students with a question that illuminates their misconceptions or prejudices about a topic or concept. Then, present or discuss the topic. Finally, ask the students the same question to see if they grasped the concept! This is sometimes referred to as pre- and post-testing. Comparative linking is a more dramatic way to bring real time graphic proof of learning to students…

4. You could create this ‘pre-test’ slide that challenges students’ misconceptions in a biology class. After polling, you might discuss the topic and/or create some explanatory slides.

5. Then, you could create this ‘post-test’ slide to re-poll students after the discussion.

6. To create a comparative link, click on Tools on the TurningPoint toolbar, then on Comparative Links.

7. The post-test slide should appear as the Selected Slide. If not, use the arrow at the right of the box to make it so.

8. Click the down arrow at the right of the Link to Slide box, find and click the pre-test slide (#3 in this case)…

9. The pre-test slide (#3) appears in the Link to Slide box. Click Create Link.

10. The post-test slide (#8) appears as the Comparative Slide and the pre-test slide (#3) appears as the Linked Slide. Finally, click Done.

11. You are returned to your slide.

12. Begin your presentation. After polling the pre-test version of this question, many students don’t understand the significance of a scientific theory! So, discuss the topic or present some explanatory slides…

13. In science, there are hypotheses, theories and laws. Examples of laws (there are actually very few of these): The Laws of thermodynamics Mendelian Laws of inheritance… A law is a broad unifying principle. As such it is the closest thing to a fact in science – new observations might refine a law, but is unlikely to disprove it.

14. Of theories and hypotheses there are too many to give examples! Theories are well supported explanations of specific natural phenomena. Experiments will test hypotheses that similar phenomena conform to the theory Like laws, theories can be altered by new information, but not likely to be discarded.

15. 45% 55% 75% 25% Pre- & post-test responses are instantly compared. By default the darker bars are the pre-test results. Most students now ‘get it’! Now poll the post-test question:

16. Students get to see whether they have grasped the material, and you get to see how many have! Notes: By repeating these steps, it is possible to link responses for any one slide to those from more than one other slide. Comparative links can be made on saved sessions after polling, but the students will not get instant feedback on their learning.

17. The end