Appraisers' Free Forum

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

It's you Brian, it is you

Geez...I'm boring.

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.

Stone wrote: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).

Bingo! That was why I asked the questions I did at the beginning. I need time to process the information, and add to that my major test anxiety and I wouldn't probably wouldn't perform well.

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.

TC

TC wrote: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.

TC

I might be able to go with that line of reasoning. (can't find any sort of drinking emoticon to put in here)

Actually, I'd say if there ever was testing for a one day course, the material would have to be available in advance.

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

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

DB wrote: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

I tend to think the opposite. When I find CE that goes with what I do, I am usually pretty happy... although there have been bad courses that looked good. I would actually say that the USPAP updates are worse than some of the other courses. The problem (IMO) with the USPAP updates is that they are centrally designed and are forced on us every two years. If it was every other cycle, it might be ok. But, to have to sit through those courses every other year is just too much. It probably was a good idea when it was put in place, but making it be 25 percent of CE every cycle is plain silly.