Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

[Guest guest]

Jim:

I found the same thing. When I originally proposed raising the pass-fail

criteria, several of my instructors and some of the college administrators

were opposed. They expressed the certain belief that we would suddenly find

ourselves failing our whole classes. It didn't happen. The people that went

through the program rose to meet the level of expectation. The negative

thing that did happen was we began to lose students to another school that

would pass you if you could walk straight and not wet yourself too often.

The coordinator of this school was one of those I mentioned who bragged

about how she acquired the questions from the TDH exams so she could teach

to the test. If students are uniformly required to meet a tough standard to

pass, they will meet it. If there is an easy way out or a path of least

resistance available, human nature being what it is, many of them will take

it. I guess that's one reason why I'm so hot on these miscreants being

dragged out and shot.

Dave

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

>

>

> >

> > Not as old as those of us who found out that anything below 70 was

> failing.

> > Ernie

> > At 12:30 AM 4/6/00 -0500, you wrote:

> > >I know that I am not old.....but the way I remember it was

> > >

> > >90-100 " A "

> > >80-89 " B "

> > >70-79 " C "

> > >60-69 " D "

> > >59 and below " F "

> > >

> > > Chambers, LP

> > >

> > >lpate@... wrote:

> > >

> > >> I guess I'm getting too old! When I was in high school 60 meant you

> failed!

> > >> 70 or above--you passed. 69 or below--you failed. No ifs, ands, or

> buts,

> > >> and not open for discussion.

> > >>

> > >> Maxine

> > >>

> > >> In a message dated 04/05/00 12:36:29 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > malouf@...

> > >> writes:

> > >>

> > >> << It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school

where

> a 60

> > >> would mean you " passed " >>

> > >>

> >

>

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[Guest guest]

And people wonder why I am in favor of retesting the instructors on a

regular basis.

Stay safe

Jim Easley

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

> >

> >

> > >

> > > Not as old as those of us who found out that anything below 70 was

> > failing.

> > > Ernie

> > > At 12:30 AM 4/6/00 -0500, you wrote:

> > > >I know that I am not old.....but the way I remember it was

> > > >

> > > >90-100 " A "

> > > >80-89 " B "

> > > >70-79 " C "

> > > >60-69 " D "

> > > >59 and below " F "

> > > >

> > > > Chambers, LP

> > > >

> > > >lpate@... wrote:

> > > >

> > > >> I guess I'm getting too old! When I was in high school 60 meant

you

> > failed!

> > > >> 70 or above--you passed. 69 or below--you failed. No ifs, ands,

or

> > buts,

> > > >> and not open for discussion.

> > > >>

> > > >> Maxine

> > > >>

> > > >> In a message dated 04/05/00 12:36:29 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > > malouf@...

> > > >> writes:

> > > >>

> > > >> << It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school

> where

> > a 60

> > > >> would mean you " passed " >>

> > > >>

> > >

> >

>

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[Guest guest]

But who is to say that someone that makes the 70 will be a better medic than a

person that makes the 90.. Some people just don't do well on written tests.

I know for a fact that some of the people in classess I have been in should

never have passed the class let alone the state test. But thay sure did and I

wouldn't want them working on my dog. Quite frankly maybe this will in turn

help the state see that we need another way to test our people.

Just my 0.02 cents.

A.J. Emt-I

Beaumont, Texas

Dave wrote:

> C has traditionally been considered " average " . A grade of 70 means someone

> is right on the border between average and below average. Do you really want

> to trust the well-being of your family to someone whose knowledge falls on

> that dubious border? I sure don't. That is why any of my EMT students with a

> grade below 75 failed and my paramedics below 80 failed. We owe our first

> loyalties to the citizens of our state and then to our profession. Our

> loyalty to our students comes third.

>

> Dave

> Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

>

> > I know that I am not old.....but the way I remember it was

> >

> > 90-100 " A "

> > 80-89 " B "

> > 70-79 " C "

> > 60-69 " D "

> > 59 and below " F "

> >

> > Chambers, LP

> >

> > lpate@... wrote:

> >

> > > I guess I'm getting too old! When I was in high school 60 meant you

> failed!

> > > 70 or above--you passed. 69 or below--you failed. No ifs, ands, or

> buts,

> > > and not open for discussion.

> > >

> > > Maxine

> > >

> > > In a message dated 04/05/00 12:36:29 PM Central Daylight Time,

> malouf@...

> > > writes:

> > >

> > > << It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school where a

> 60

> > > would mean you " passed " >>

> > >

> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > Save 75% on Products!

> > > Find incredible deals on overstocked items with Free shipping!

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> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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> >

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> >

> >

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[Guest guest]

One cannot completely guarantee any thing in this life. However, what you

can do by setting the bar high is to weed out the ones who aren't willing to

work for it. Another component of teaching is the constant evaluation and

observation of the students by the teacher. There are also other methods of

evaluating a student's skill and performance level. I know of a nurse who

is -bar none-the finest E.R. Nurse I have ever worked with- who almost goes

into anaphylactic shock during ACLS testing; hives, SOB-(shortness of breath

in this usage) complete with wheezes and rhonchi. We tried beta-blockers,

xanax, tequila, but nothing worked well enough to get her through the Mega

Code. We finally got around this by having the ACLS Faculty Director

observe her in an actual code. Fortunately the Director was the E.D.

Medical Director as well.

Stay safe-Jim Easley

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

> >

> > > I know that I am not old.....but the way I remember it was

> > >

> > > 90-100 " A "

> > > 80-89 " B "

> > > 70-79 " C "

> > > 60-69 " D "

> > > 59 and below " F "

> > >

> > > Chambers, LP

> > >

> > > lpate@... wrote:

> > >

> > > > I guess I'm getting too old! When I was in high school 60 meant you

> > failed!

> > > > 70 or above--you passed. 69 or below--you failed. No ifs, ands, or

> > buts,

> > > > and not open for discussion.

> > > >

> > > > Maxine

> > > >

> > > > In a message dated 04/05/00 12:36:29 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > malouf@...

> > > > writes:

> > > >

> > > > << It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school

where a

> > 60

> > > > would mean you " passed " >>

> > > >

> > >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > > Save 75% on Products!

> > > > Find incredible deals on overstocked items with Free shipping!

> > > > http://click./1/2711/4/_/4981/_/954992359/

> > >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > >

> > >

> >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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> > > Get automatic protection and access to your important computer files.

> > > Install today:

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> >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

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>

[Guest guest]

Guess I'm just an old dog used to the old ways! I'm just not sure I'd

do well if I had to change testing methods. I first go through and answer

all the " easy " questions, then I go back through and if one really stumps

me, I skip it and get it on the 3rd or 4th try! Just can't do that with the

computerized system. But, it would be nice to schedule your test any day

and most any time you want and go and take it without having 200 other

people taking it with you!

Oh, well!

Take care, stay safe, and practice mercy, ya'll!!

Jana

FW,TX

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

> Jana Leigh:

>

> I know this is one of the major complaints of this method. It seems it

> would be relatively simple to program the testing process with a " skip "

> response and then a way to bring them back up in the end or to " flag " them

> for review.

>

> Either way, everyone is in the same boat and the test would be weighted

> accordingly. I did not say I was necessary for this method, just that it

> is a basis for it.

>

> Melody

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED No, Melody, we

don't

> want to go there! You can't go back and change an answer if you remember

> the correct answer, and you can't skip a question and come back to it

later!

> Although we will probably have this type of testing at some point, we

don't

> want it before we have to!

>

> Take care, stay safe, and practice mercy, ya'll!!

> Jana

> FW,TX

>

> -

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey AJ:

You're 100% right. That is one reason why the state exam, used as a measure

of competency for recertification is not valid. In our program, however, the

numerical grade factored in the student's lab performance and their

performance in scenario-type exercises as well as the written test grades.

It gave us a better picture of the student as an all-around paramedic

candidate. Nevertheless, the system wasn't perfect. No evaluation scale or

methodology is 100% effective. 'Tis the nature o th' beast.

Dave

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

> >

> > > I know that I am not old.....but the way I remember it was

> > >

> > > 90-100 " A "

> > > 80-89 " B "

> > > 70-79 " C "

> > > 60-69 " D "

> > > 59 and below " F "

> > >

> > > Chambers, LP

> > >

> > > lpate@... wrote:

> > >

> > > > I guess I'm getting too old! When I was in high school 60 meant you

> > failed!

> > > > 70 or above--you passed. 69 or below--you failed. No ifs, ands, or

> > buts,

> > > > and not open for discussion.

> > > >

> > > > Maxine

> > > >

> > > > In a message dated 04/05/00 12:36:29 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > malouf@...

> > > > writes:

> > > >

> > > > << It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school

where a

> > 60

> > > > would mean you " passed " >>

> > > >

> > >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > > Save 75% on Products!

> > > > Find incredible deals on overstocked items with Free shipping!

> > > > http://click./1/2711/4/_/4981/_/954992359/

> > >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > >

> > >

> >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > Special Offer-Earn 300 Points from MyPoints.com for trying @Backup

> > > Get automatic protection and access to your important computer files.

> > > Install today:

> > > http://click./1/2344/4/_/4981/_/954999049/

> >

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > Special Offer-Earn 300 Points from MyPoints.com for trying @Backup

> > Get automatic protection and access to your important computer files.

> > Install today:

> > http://click./1/2344/4/_/4981/_/955031558/

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>

>

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> Try @Backup FREE and recieve 300 points from mypoints.com Install now:

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>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jana, actually that is not true with the testing software that we use at TJC.

As long as you haven't hit a submit button, you CAN go back and change an

answer. It is all in how the test is designed. Having the state exams

computerized would solve numerous problems including availability of ways to

cheat, financial problems, scheduling problems, etc. Once a good program is

set up, you would be much freer to set testing times that come closer to

matching your own schedule...

Jane Hill

In a message dated 4/5/2000 8:54:42 PM Central Daylight Time,

jordan78@... writes:

<< Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED No, Melody, we

don't want to go there! You can't go back and change an answer if you

remember the correct answer, and you can't skip a question and come back to

it later! Although we will probably have this type of testing at some point,

we don't want it before we have to!

Take care, stay safe, and practice mercy, ya'll!!

Jana

FW,TX

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

I believe this is one of the basis for pass/fail computer-based testing.

It randomly generates enough questions until the student passes each

section. It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school

where a 60 would mean you " passed " but is more sophisticated in covering all

relevant subjects and requiring a " pass " in each category.

Any thoughts?

Melody Malouf >>

[Guest guest]

Jane,

Sorry, I was going by what my cousin told me about the RN tests at the

Sylvan Learning Centers. And, dummy me, just thought that all computerized

tests were the same. I'm 40 yo and have been taking written tests,

therefore, a " few " years, and I'm just afraid of that change. But, if it

could be as ya'll have yours set up, then that would be great. And probably

easier on the person testing also since you say it will allow more freedom

in scheduling the test, etc.

Thanks for the info.; I really appreciate it!

Take care, stay safe, and practice mercy, ya'll!!

Jana

FW,TX

Re: TEXAS PARAMEDIC EXAMS HALTED

>

>

>

>

> I believe this is one of the basis for pass/fail computer-based

testing.

> It randomly generates enough questions until the student passes each

> section. It is not like a pass/fail grade that we took in high school

> where a 60 would mean you " passed " but is more sophisticated in covering

all

> relevant subjects and requiring a " pass " in each category.

> Any thoughts?

>

> Melody Malouf >>

>

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>