Appraisers' Free Forum

**Jim Plante** · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:39 am Post subject: Testing for CE credit

How many of you favor requiring the passing of a test in order to be eligible for CE credit?
_________________
Jim Plante

**Cindy E** · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

I need more information, Jim. Do you mean passing an exam at the end of taking a CE class in order to receive credit? Or having exams for different CE topics that one could take after self study of the subject?
_________________
Cindy
Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them.

**benluby** · Certified Residential Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 1576

I am in favor of requiring testing for any continuing education credits. By not having testing, one is simply making a blanket statement that, as long as you show up in the classroom and maintain a semblance of conciousness, you learned.
Continuing education should be a constant move toward improving, and there is not a much better way to see if someone has improved than requiring a test.
And I don't like tests.
_________________
Whoever thinks herding cats is impossible, has never walked with an open can of Tuna.

**Edd Gillespie** · Certified General Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 2282

When there is test the instructors teach the answers to the questions. I have yet to be in a tested class that the warnings regarding the test questions weren't posted during the course and a review covering the questions in advance of the test wasn't given.

If you have CE's that are vehicles for passing the tests they are a waste of time.
_________________
Edd “In the real estate economy, there are no guarantees that reason will prevail in a market where emotions run high and the amount of misinformation runs deep.” Jonathan Miller in The Matrix. So what’s an appraiser to do?

**Corporate Lackey** · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

I like the test idea simply because it forces the student to at least partially pay attention, even if it is pointed out that something will be on the test. If the student isn't paying attention, they won't pass most often.

I hate simple butt hour courses. When I take a course/seminar/class, whatever, I want to freaking LEARN something!!!!! When I have taught, it seems that only a minority are actually there to learn, or even want to learn as part of obtaining some hours on their rear.

**bkirksey** · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

I like the test idea, frankly I am not quite sure people are even listening when I teach...wait maybe its me.

**Corporate Lackey** · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

It's you Brian, it is you Wink

**bkirksey** · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:

Geez...I'm boring.

**Stone** · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject:

No. As Edd pointed out, teaching to a test like that is a waste of time.

Also, IMO, the level of instructor would have to go up greatly for many CE classes if passing a test became part of the equation. I'm not speakig about the instructors' knowledge, most CE teachers I've run across are quite knowledgeable. However, that does not make them good instructors and thus different classes would be operating on different playing fields.

My last thought is in regards to what one can really absorb in a day. Many smart people cannot process and repeat information in one sitting. Taking a class at the end of a one-day CE course would really put those people in a bad situation. The minimum, IMO, for a test is two days so that there is a night for those who learn differently to have a chance to study. I would be willing to bet the number of people who would fail a one-day class/test scenario would be much higher than is reasonable for the time and effort those people would put in. A one-day class/test situation is not an accurate measure of one's ability to learn and process (and it isn't a measure of work ethics, either).

I say all this as an above average test taker. I don't think that I would have too much difficulty with this scenario. I just don't agree that it would measure anything that really matters.

**Cindy E** · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject:

TC · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

I'm all for it, but make the class optional. Let me study the materials on my own, have the exam given 1 hour before class starts, if I pass, I don't have to park my butt for 8 hours. If I fail, I have sit around and listen to guys like bkirksey. Laughing

TC
_________________
I like this bored alot.

**Stone** · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject:

**bkirksey** · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject:

Well TC I would hate to have you listen to me, in fact I fall asleep just hearing myself talk in my own head Razz

DB · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

Frankly .... CE's are a joke in my opinion ... except for maybe the USPAP update ...... I get 10x the education and information here, than I have EVER gotten in a class ..... CE's are revenue generators ... designed to reduce the states liabilty ... IMNSHO
_________________
Tennessee State Certified Residential Appraiser
***************************************
..."If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day,
so I never have to live without you." - Winnie the Pooh.

**Stone** · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:14 am Post subject: