Here's the scenario: you became an Affiliate Trainer within the past year. It's now time for you to recertify. This recertification is different from previous observer tests. After you pass the video portion, you now have an additional test, just for trainers. It's the "Knowledge Test." And somehow, you fail the test! How can that happen?!
When I became an affiliate trainer, I was pretty confident in my CLASS knowledge. I mean, after all, I had passed my reliability test. I knew CLASS! It wasn’t until I delivered my first CLASS training that I realized that passing the reliability test alone did not automatically make me knowledgeable enough to train others. I discovered I still had a lot to learn—and truth told, I'm still learning! We CLASS Specialists remain, well—lifelong students of CLASS, always building our knowledge and discovering misconceptions long the way.
The Knowledge Test is designed to demonstrate an understanding of specific CLASS behaviors, and the ability to sort those behaviors into the correct CLASS dimensions. As a trainer, you are responsible for teaching others about the ins and outs of CLASS. The test mimics what happens in real class trainings—participants ask you about interactions, and you need to be "quick on your feet" and able to provide answers, sorting those questions into correct CLASS dimensions and indicators.
The questions on the test are tailor-made with specific language that helps the trainer select the best dimension for the behavior. These scenarios include examples that could be in the low, mid, or high range. It is entirely possible to pass the reliability portion of CLASS, but fail the knowledge test. The knowledge test challenges you to analyze a classroom snapshot, and sort where it best fits in CLASS. It is an exercise in ignoring why things are happening, and instead identifying what is happening, and where it belongs in the framework.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for the Knowledge Test:
- Review more than just the face pages for the dimension. Each detailed description helps develop and refresh your overall understanding of the indicators.
- Do take your time during the test, but ...
- Avoid over thinking your answers.
- Try not to add extra information to the scenario to fill in perceived missing gaps.
- Look for key wording in the scenarios to help determine the focus of each example:
- Scenario: "The teacher notices a child struggling with a puzzle." The key word here is "notices," a behavior of Teacher Sensitivity.
- Scenario: "The teacher does not narrate students’ actions." Key word here is "narrate" which guides us to Language Modeling, specifically parallel talk.
Finally, what’s next if you fail? You will have another chance to pass. When all else fails—contact Teachstone (reliabilitysupport@teachstone.com). A CLASS Specialist can provide some individualized feedback. It is always better to reach out after a failed test attempt rather than letting your trainer certification lapse!
