State Certification Tests?

[Chef Dave]

Does anyone else find their state certification test to be a bit odd?

I took Arizona's Knowledge of Secondary Instruction test last August and was favorably impressed. The test included questions about learning theories, educational psychology, and instructional methodology. There were 75 multiple choice questions and three essay questions. I breezed through this test and passed without any problems.

Today I took Arizona's Knowledge of Elementary Instruction test. If you heard a "thump" around 8:20 AM, that may have been my mouth hitting the floor.

The elementary test seemed more like an academic trivia test instead of a teacher's test.

I'm sorry ... but I have three college degrees from nationally accredited colleges and universities. What was the point of asking me questions about math, history, science, English grammar, literature, music, and art? How does knowing a trivial detail about ancient Mesopotamia make me a better elementary teacher?I did by the by, actually KNOW the answer to this question ... but I really don't see why anything this esoteric was on the test.

Where were the questions about parent conferencing, planning lessons, adapting lessons to different learning styles, and adjusting lessons to meet the needs of special students? Why wasn't I asked questions about motivating and managing a class? How come I wasn't asked about portfolios or the difference between informal and formal assessments?

I'm quite certain I passed this test ... but unlike the Knowledge of Secondary Instruction exam, I thought this test was a colossal waste of time.

Should elementary teachers have a general knowledge of subject matter? Yes! Everyone knows that elementary teachers are generalists ... but isn't this why most of us went to a teachers' college?

Where were the questions that really challenged me as a teacher to demonstrate my professional knowledge? I spent six hours and $65.00 on gas driving to and from to Phoenix to take this test not including expenses related to registering for this test.

Anyone can look up facts in a textbook ... but knowing how to sequence these facts and present them in manageable "chunks" to students to capture their attention ... knowing how to motivate interest in learning and how to reinforce and assess lessons ... well ... that's the difference between being a teacher and playing a game of trivial pursuit.
:wowee:

[hweber]

I feel your frustration! I have taken so many praxis II tests that I think I could finance part of the national debt. I think that you have to remember that most of these tests are created for the just out of college person not someone with your vast experience. So waste of time or not, I am sure you passed and will get this certification too.

[Boxcar]

I agree that - like the SATs - some state tests for teachers are completely pointless in thier current form. Even if they are structured for those just out of college, one would hope that more pratical instruction was offered to these new teachers! Student teaching and what is learned through that should be more important than testing knowledge of random facts pulled from textbooks.

[Chef Dave]

I've taken the Praxis as well. Since I only took the Praxis I, I had to take the state's test for elementary instruction. Had I also taken the Praxis II, I would have been exempt.

One thing I liked about the Praxis was that it reported my test scores. I had nearly perfect scores for reading, writing and math ... thank you, thank you, hold your applause ...:laugh:

In contrast, the state tests in Arizona are simply pass/fail.

I'm sure I aced my first test - Knowledge of Secondary Instruction ... but I'll never really know ...

[Chef Dave]

P.S. I really think that state test scores should be reported.

After all, think about two novice teachers who have just graduated from Arizona State University. They've both had the same classes. They both have nice letters of reference from their supervising teacher.

Teacher A scored a 95.6% on his knowledge of instruction test.

Teacher B squeaked by with a 70.2%.

If all other things were equal, which teacher would YOU rather hire?

I'm sure I aced the knowledge of secondary instruction test but anyone who squeaked by is also my technical equal as far as the state is concerned. That doesn't seem fair ... :(

Of course, if I was the teacher with the 70.2%, I might be singing a different song ... :idontknow:

[hweber]

Good point Chef Dave. The pass/fail does seem unfair, especially for those who do well. Are you looking for a position in elementary?

[merrynl]

Anyone every take the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching for gr 7-12? That one is a pretty crummy test too. The main reason people fail is because they couldn't finish in time! When I took it (after moving to KY), I was the only one in a room of 35 people who finished before time was up. What is this really testing? What we know about teaching? Or how quickly we can take a test?

It seems like a lot of the standardized tests we have to take to become teachers are poorly designed. They are there to make money for the testing company, but aren't necessarily making education any better.

[hweber]

I agree Merrynl, someone is getting rich because we have to take all these tests - I have taken the middle school Principals of Learning and Teaching, Science, and Social Studies Praxis II tests for my primary certification. Then the Reading K-12 for the reading endorsement, then the General Knowledge for elementary school for the generalist for language arts and math endorsement. Someone really made $ off of me!

[silvana]

Ok so I read this thread and frankly I am totally bemused....why the hell do you all have to take tests??? You would imagine that in the 21st century, the powers that be, would have realised that tests only reveal a small fraction of any persons true potential. I refuse to believe that a good teacher would ever need to be tested on the stuff you all talk about. In the UK teachers have to continue their professional development...but the things we do are related to improving us in a vast array of essential areas of teaching.....I think teachers in England would flip out if we were ever asked to take these certification tests....gee..

[hweber]

I do believe, but I may be totally wrong, they were mandated by a federal program - possibly NCLB?

[Chef Dave]

Ok so I read this thread and frankly I am totally bemused....why the hell do you all have to take tests???

why do we take these tests? They're mandated by the state for certification requirements.

I have previously taught in Texas ... but now that I'm in Arizona, I have to be recertified.

One of the annoying things about our Federalist system is that government authority has been divided between a national government and state governments. Authority not specifically granted to the U.S. Government in the U.S. Constitution is taken by the state governments ... so with 50 different states, we have 50 different state certification offices and each state has a different idea about what qualifications they think teachers should have.

Some states require state certification tests. Other states use tests like the Praxis which is a standardized test produced by ETS.

In addition to a certification test, there may be other requirements. Texas requires Texas state history. Arizona requires knowledge of the Arizona state constitution and the U.S. constitution as well as SEI, structured English immersion.

What do teachers do in the United Kingdom? Do teachers graduating from a teachers' program have to take a national test or does the fact that you graduated from an accredited program automatically certify you as a teacher?

[silvana]

In the UK it is assumed that after a teacher has finished a 4 year degree program related to education they do not need to take any further tests. When a newly qualified teacher enters education they are put on a one year integration program where they have a career entry profile which highlkights any areas that the NQT or professional bodies think they need to develop with the schools support. In the UK qualified teacher status means just that....

[Chef Dave]

In the UK it is assumed that after a teacher has finished a 4 year degree program related to education they do not need to take any further tests....

Is there an alternative certification process available in the United Kingdom? Depending upon which state you're in, we have alternative certification. Most teachers who go the alt cert route have had prior careers in other fields. For example, chefs, nurses, and auto mechanics can become instructors for Culinary Arts, Nurses' Aide, and Auto Shop. Scientists may teach science. Mathematicians teach math. Journalists teach journalism etc.

The theory behind alternative certification programs is that these programs allow people with prior "real world" experience to teach these subject areas.

Alternative certification has been used to a lesser extent to recruit elementary teachers - typically in areas where there have been critical shortages. For example, New York City has a program that recruits non-teachers into education. Teachers in this program get initial summer training before the start of the Fall Semester. Additional training continues throughout the year as well as the following summer. In time, teachers with alternative certification in New York may apply for standard certification.

[silvana]

You can do a normal 3 year degree in any area and then take a PGCE which is the postgraduate certificate in education. That is the only other route into education and in the UK there are not seperate rules for different areas. No extra certification is required anywhere, however, teachers are expected to continue their professional development and each year you are probably put on 3 or 4 courses aimed at improving you professionally. None of these courses are tests as such more interactive sessions. There are courses you can take which do lead to certification but that is personal choice.
I think its ridiculous that each state as its own little foibles, I much prefer decisions made centrally and all areas having to adhere to the rules.

[hweber]

Not sure how I feel about the federal government here doing it all, but I would like to be able to move from one state to another and be able to get a job without going back to school. Maybe a move to England?