Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) from the Praxis II Series

1. Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) from the Praxis II Series Test Preparation Session Created by Dr. Diane Kern Assistant Professor, University of Rhode Island, School of Education

2. What we’ll do and why • Prepare for PLT…time well spent! • RI Teacher Certification • Exit from Rhode Island Teacher Education programs • Become familiar with exam • Reduce stress, raise confidence, save time • Self-diagnose areas to study further

3. The PLT Exam Basics • K-6 OR 5-9 OR 7-12…at this time in RI you’ll want to either take the K-6 or the 7-12 • Two hour exam • Test Dates & RI Test Centers • Registration & Cost • Test Takers with Disabilities • Primary Language Not English • Your Scores & Score Reports • Most URI programs have an additional content exam (or more). See you advisor for the specific name(s) of your area’s content exam and materials to use for studying.

4. Case Histories • 4 Detailed teaching situations, a.k.a.“constructed response” • Each followed with 3 short-answer questions • Scored on a scale of 0-2.

5. Multiple-Choice Questions • Discrete, stand alone multiple choice questions (not about constructed response questions, in other words!) • 24 multiple-choice questions are included in two sections of 12 questions each

6. Categories on Score Report Categories that will appear on your score report & Approximate Percentage of Total Score I. Students as Learners (multiple-choice questions) 11% II. Instruction and Assessment (multiple-choice questions) 11% III.Teacher Professionalism (multiple-choice questions) 11% IV.Students as Learners (short-answer questions) 11% V.Instruction and Assessment (short-answer questions) 22% VI.Communication Techniques (short-answer questions) 11% VII.Teacher Professionalism (short-answer questions) 11%

7. Four categories • Students as Learners • Instruction and Assessment • Teacher Professionalism • Communication Techniques

8. URI coursework connections • EDC 102/502 or 503 Intro to American Ed • EDC 312 or 512 Psychology of Learning • EDC 402 Educating Students with Special Needs • EDC 415 or HDF 310 Adolescent Development and Classroom Management • EDC 448 Literacy Practices… • And several other aspects of any EDC prefix course

9. Students as Learners • Strategies to maintain discipline • Strategies to encourage desirable & discourage undesirable student behavior • Making learning goals clear to students • Making content comprehensible to students • Encouraging students to extend their thinking • Meeting the needs of diverse learners

10. Instruction and Assessment • Monitoring students’ understanding of content & adjusting learning activities • Current research on teaching for thinking and understanding • Using instructional time wisely • Relevant aspects of students’ background knowledge & experiences • Articulating clear goal for lessons • Creating or selecting teaching methods & evaluation strategies

11. Teacher Professionalism • Reflecting on the extent learning goals are met • Demonstrating sense of efficacy • Building professional relationships with colleagues, parents, & paraprofessionals • Current trends in and research findings in education • Communicating with parents/guardians about student learning (includes legal rights of teacher and students)

12. Communication Techniques • Dynamics of interpersonal relationships • Appropriate teacher responses to individual and cultural diversity • Nonverbal communication skills • Questioning techniques • Creating classroom environments that promote fairness • Classroom and school expectations, rules • Appropriate motivational strategies

13. Sample Test Items • K-6 Case History • 7-12 Case History • Multiple Choice items

14. General Test-Taking Strategies #1 Issue!!! Plan how you will use your time for the test • Get a good night’s rest • Eat a healthy breakfast • Bring your proof of registration papers, 2 forms of identification and extra pencils with erasers • Arrive to the test early & take a moment to relax and reduce your anxiety • Listen attentively to test proctor • Keep a steady pace & don’t let more difficult questions affect your attitude & steal your valuable time

15. Test-Taking Tips, continued… • Rely on your knowledge and don’t watch for patterns • Change only answers when you’re certain • When you’ve completed your test use remaining time wisely—proofread, review your difficult questions, check that you’ve answered all questions.

16. Test Preparation Resources • Educational Testing Service Website http://www.ets.org • Test Preparation Resources ETS CliffsTestPrep Kaplan Barron’s • On-line Resources Dr. Lee’s from Harding University’s PLT site http://www.harding.edu/USER/dlee/WWW/pltprep.htm • Other supports Your academic advisor URI Counseling Center, particularly for Test Anxiety 874-2288

17. Final tips • Additional fees for: phone test score results, additional score reports, scoring verification request, diagnostic information • URI does NOT get your results from ETS.It is your responsibility to keep your original in a safe place, make one copy of ALL four pages (even if they’re not filled in) to give to the Office of Teacher Education 701 Chafee and another copy to give to your methods instructor • Don’t wait until you only have one chance to pass.Start your studying now, register with plenty of time for two or more retakes so you do not have to delay your student teaching year. • The PLT is not a reflection of how well you will teach; it’s a teacher certification requirement that you CAN reach! Your URI advisors are here to help you.