For those interested in additional NY state technology certification, the certification office offers a content specialty test for Educational Technology Specialist.  After taking the 90 question exam on Saturday, I was left with two questions:

1. When was this exam written?

One of the questions was “how do you help a teacher who has a dialup ISP and hears the modem make sounds but then loses her connection?”  Maybe some schools upstate still have dialup, but I have the feeling this test was at least five years old. None of the questions made any references to current technology trends.  Many surrounded CD-Roms and scientific probeware.

2. Why were there so little questions about technology hardware and software?

Most of the questions dealt with the ed-tech specialist’s interaction with staff and administration.  Perhaps five questions asked about the actual technology.

Overall, I felt the test was fair and posed some critical thinking questions about what a specialitst would face in their everyday life on the job. The essay at the end was about helping students use technology to advertise a new school play. 

 The rest of the certifcation requires 12 credit hours in non-printed media.