Tests are usually developed to measure the level of students’ knowing the definite facts and concepts on a topic. Thus, tests are oriented to measuring the students’ knowledge of the concrete information and connections between the facts, concepts and their definitions (Slavin, 2009). To help students to prepare for a test, it is important to provide them with the necessary information about the test structure and its type (Smaldino, Lowther, & Russell, 2008).
Moreover, it is useful to present and explain the information which will be mentioned in tests in the form which is easy to practice and review (Borich, 2007). Thus, to prepare students of the third grade for the test about the planets of the solar system, it is helpful to use flash cards for learning the information and then for its review in pairs and groups.
To learn such specific information as the details about the planets of the solar system, it is possible to use the activity based on discussing the concepts and making flash cards. Thus, while explaining the information about the names of the planets and their peculiarities, the teacher can ask students to write down the notes using the different colors of ink in order to find the necessary information in the text easily.
This hint will help students in making flash cards in relation to the learnt material. To remember the necessary concrete information which will be examined with the help of a test, it is useful to provide the students with instructions to prepare the flash cards basing on the explained material with determining such aspects as, for instance, the names of the planets, the dwarf planet, the largest planet, and the planet which is the closest to the sun.
The flash cards of this type are effective when there is little concrete information which should be mentioned in the test. Students can prepare the cards which include all the information on one side and the cards which provide the concept or name on one side and the definition or fact on the other side of the card.
This activity will help students to learn and remember the information in relation to the typical connections which are measured during the test. These aspects are the associations between the names and facts, concepts and definitions (Linn, Miller, & Gronlund, 2009).
To help students to prepare for their test and review the material effectively, it is necessary to use the cards which were made during the previous lessons. These cards are familiar for the students because they learnt the material while preparing them.
The organization of the work in pairs and groups when students ask each other with references to the flash cards and use the information presented on them to check their answers is necessary for practicing the habit to find the connections between names, facts, and definitions.
That is why, the usage of the same flash cards is an important aspect for reviewing the material which was successfully learnt at the lessons some time ago. Students receive the opportunity to check themselves with the help of the group activity using the cards. Thus, flash cards of different types can be effectively used for learning, practicing, and reviewing the material in order to prepare for tests on the definite topic.
References
Borich, G. (2007). Effective teaching methods: Research-based practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Linn, R., Miller, M., & Gronlund, N. (2009). Measurement and assessment in teaching. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Slavin, R. E. (2009). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Smaldino, S., Lowther, D. L., & Russell, J. D. (2008). Instructional technology and media for learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.