Overall Purpose
To determine the audience’s current state of knowledge or skill regarding an issue.
Advantages
Helps identify a problem or a deficiency in knowledge or skills.
Results are easily quantified.
Individual performances can be easily compared.
Helps determine if the problem is a training issue.
Challenges
Limited availability of validated for specific situations.
Results can be influenced by attitudes.
Language or vocabulary can be an issue.
People may be concern about how results will be used.
Adults may resent taking tests.
CREE Considerations
Tests of knowledge are just one way of evaluating what a participant knows or how much they have learned. Some people may not be good test-takers. Consider using other methods to see how much participants have learned in conjunction with tests- such as through the other methods listed in this table, or project-based learning approaches that can allow participants to connect what they learned with their own life.