Transference of knowledge from one domain to another is difficult. They glue new knowledge onto existing knowlege and, when it doesn't meld with the underlying structure, it often curls off when challenged like cheap veneer in a rain. The Background Knowledge Learning Probe assesses the mindset and language of students' private worlds. This allows the professor to prepare a learning environment where the new knowledge is more likely to stick. One needs only a few questions to sample students' predispositions, yet one shouldn't rely too heavily on what one probe reveals.
Probes are useful at the beginning of individual topics as well as whole courses.
The accompanying example in the right panel is from a second day Background Knowlege Probe of a 300-level general education bioethics course. Classroom Assessment Techniques , 2nd ed. I have never heard of this term before. I have a clear idea of what this term means and can explain it. I have never heard of these terms before.