Overview

The Praxis II Content Key Assessment is a self-assessment intended to allow teacher candidates to reflect on their preparedness for the content knowledge licensure exam for their discipline.  Teacher candidates will reflect on their perceptions of their preparedness level, complete a practice exam, and reflect on the results of the practice exam.

Purpose

Teachers need deep content understanding to be able to help students understand the meaning of concepts, connections between concepts, and relationships between their discipline and others. The Praxis II Content Knowledge licensure exam evaluates candidatesÕ content knowledge and understanding foundational to beginning a career as a professional teacher. The Praxis II Content Knowledge Key Assessment provides candidates an early opportunity to assess their progress toward being ready to take the exam.

Connections to Standards

CAEP Standard 1.1 Teacher candidates and completers know subject matter (including pedagogical content knowledge) and pedagogy.

Requirements

Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, English, Art, Music, and Theatre majors

The Praxis II Content Key Assessment must include the following:

1.     Pre-Reflection Paragraph. Candidates reflect on their comfort level with the content described on the cover page of the Praxis II content exam.

2.     Performance Analysis Paragraph. Candidates report on the number of correct and incorrect responses and a description indicating that they are aware of which responses are incorrect and why. A holistic analysis of overall level of preparation should be included.

3.     Future Growth Paragraph. Candidates describe a plan for future growth in content understanding. Response should provide connections between identified strengths and weaknesses with specific courses/ experiences that should be taken in the future.

Disciplines without a Praxis Content Test

The Praxis II Content Key Assessment must include the following:

1.    Pre-Reflection Paragraph: Candidates reflect on their comfort level with the following content and skills.

Dance Majors

1.     Contemporary Dance Techniques

2.     Ballet

3.     Improvisation

4.     Choreography

5.     Dance History

Foreign Language Majors

1.     Oral Language Proficiency

2.     Written Language Proficiency

3.     Linguistics

4.     Culture

5.     Literature

Visual Arts Majors

1.     Principles of Design

2.     Creative Expression

3.     Historic and Cultural Context

4.     Aesthetic Valuing

2.    Performance Analysis Paragraph: Candidates describe the experiences that have led to their current level of expertise.

3.    Future Growth Paragraph: Candidates describe a plan for future growth in content understanding. Response should provide connections between identified strengths and weaknesses with specific courses/ experiences that should be taken in the future.

 

Process

Pre-Reflection

1. Review the cover page of the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Exam.  Use a 5 pt. Scale (1 – not comfortable with knowledge, 5 – very comfortable with knowledge) rank your knowledge comfort level for the overall content area as well as for each of the listed content categories.
2. Construct a paragraph(s) that includes your comfort level rankings and a rationale for your stated level of comfort.

Performance Analysis

3. Complete the Practice Praxis II Content Knowledge Exam.
4. Grade your exam using the provided responses.
5. Analyze Performance:

1. Score: Written response that includes the number of correct and incorrect responses and a description indicating that you are aware of which responses are incorrect and why.
2. Current Level of Preparation: Written response that reflects on your current level of preparation as it relates to your prior/current content preparation.  Response should provide connections between identified strengths and weaknesses and previously completed courses/experiences.  

Future Growth

6. Future Growth Plan:  Written description that describes a plan for future growth in content understanding.  Response should provide connections between identified strengths and weaknesses with specific courses/ experiences that should be taken in the future.  

                                           i.         State overall feeling

                                         ii.         Include specifics strengths/weaknesses based upon performance

                                        iii.         Include description of specific content courses OR relevant experiences that may improve content understanding

                                        iv.         Describe strategy for how to continue growth of content knowledge after program completion. 

Rubric

Connections to other assessments

1.     Content Expertise (Methods Course)

2.     Pre-Internship Interview (Prior to Phase I)

3.     Praxis II Content Licensure Exam (During Internship)

Grader(s)

Course Instructor

 

Additional Resources

http://www.ets.org/praxis/md/requirements