Considers equity issues of highstakes tests conducted by computer, including whether this new form of assessment actually helps level the playing field for students or represents a new cycle of assessment inequality. Two computer tests are assessed: Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessment; and the computerized version of the Graduate Record…

In the Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers program, trained assessors observe teacher candidates in their assigned teaching environments and determine their instructional effectiveness. The article highlights the program's improvements over its predecessor, noting the need to explore teaching performance as a new…

The National Teachers Examination, criticized for cultural bias, is being replaced in many states by the "Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers." The new assessment focuses on portfolios and classroom style and includes evaluation of basic skills (in the sophomore year), subject area knowledge (on completion of…

Student learning must be touchstone by which teachers and teacher educators are gauged. Unfortunately articles in November 1996 "Kappan" on "Quality Teaching for the 21st Century" don't support this statement. In contrast to three national certification initiatives, Oregon's teacher licensure system (Oregon Work Sampling…

Discusses the Praxis II exam, "English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge," a two-hour multiple-choice exam with questions on American, British, and world literature, literary terms, grammar and usage, and teaching. Suggests that knowledge of subject matter seems to be related to successful teaching, but whether…

Explores how schools, colleges, and departments of education might improve urban teachers' preparation by applying Martin Haberman's research on "star teachers" of poor children. Discusses Haberman's findings in relation to PRAXIS III teacher performance standards, reflects on the selection/training dichotomy, and advocates video case…

This study investigated whether training cooperating teachers using a Praxis III/Pathwise model to frame discussions on teaching and learning would enhance development of pedagogical skills, examining the effects of mentor training on student teachers' demonstration of 19 target criteria. Student teachers were randomly assigned to field…

This monograph describes Ohio University College of Education's Entry Year Pilot Project. The College of Education was awarded grant money to create and implement a mentoring program to help entry-year teachers through their first year and through the Praxis III assessment. The project involved beginning teachers, school-level mentors, and…

One of the three components of The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers (trademark) is a classroom performance assessment concerning the new teacher's ability to apply basic elements of good teaching in a classroom setting. At the core of this classroom assessment are 19 criteria for which assessors are to identify…

Describes the Praxis III assessment, an observation-based system for assessing the skills of beginning teachers that emphasizes teacher decision-making and the importance of student, school, and curricular context. The principles and processes of the assessment's design and construction are described, and issues in teacher performance-assessment…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the 55 test specifications for the Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessments computer-based tests (CBT) and the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) were judged to be appropriate for entry-level vocational education teachers regardless of specialty area. The test specification statements were…

A job analysis was conducted, focusing on the knowledge and abilities important for beginning French teachers. The results of the job analysis are to be used to define the content domain of the subject assessment in French for the Praxis series of professional assessments for beginning teachers. A domain of 212 knowledge statements and ability…

This paper describes the professional experiences of teacher education interns at Wright State University in Ohio, who entered the field from prior professions or training. The paper addresses the use of Praxis III/Pathwise in the training and orientation of both Professional Educator Program (PEP) interns and professional clinical faculty…

The Educational Testing Service has initiated the development of a new series of tests to be used as part of the process states use to license or certify their teachers. Stage I of this new generation of tests will determine whether teachers possess an acceptable level of competence in the enabling skills the beginning teacher requires. This…

A study was conducted to provide information for setting two separate standards, the accuracy score and the documentation score, for the Praxis III: Classroom Performance Assessment (Praxis III). Praxis III is intended for making instructional and licensing decisions about beginning teachers. This standard-setting study was a person-judgment…