SEF-EDU8818 - Praxis Core Preparation
Course Description
Are you a prospective teacher who needs to pass the Praxis Core Exam? Have you already attempted the Praxis Core and not been successful? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then this course is for you.
You will get familiar with the different types of questions that appear on the reading and writing tests. You will master the many areas of math that you will be tested on: number operations, negative numbers, exponents, square roots, order of operations, decimals, fractions, percentages, algebra, geometry, systems of measurement, and probability and statistics. To prepare for the two essays, you will learn what constitutes high scoring essays and go through the process of writing each essay in the amount of time allotted.
You will also learn useful test-taking strategies and have the opportunity to take a full-length practice test in each subject area. Using clear explanations, numerous examples, graphics, animation, and videos, this course will not only prepare you for the Praxis Core, but do so in a fun and interesting way. After completing this course, you will be ready to pass the Praxis Core Exam.
Course Outline
Lesson 01 - An Overview of Praxis Core
- For your first lesson, you will learn all about the Praxis Core exam. As you begin this course, you probably have lots of questions about the tests. For instance, how many tests make up the Praxis Core exam? Do you have to take all the tests at once, or can you take them separately? By the end of the lesson, the tests will no longer be a mystery to you and you will be ready to start preparing.
Lesson 02 - The Reading Test
- In this lesson, you will become familiar with the reading test of the Praxis Core exam. You will learn about the different types of reading questions you will come across, including useful strategies and examples of reading questions. Then you will have the opportunity to take a full-length practice reading test.
Lesson 03 - Math Basics: Arithmetic and Decimals
- Have you ever heard the phrase "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" and wondered how it relates to math? This lesson will start preparing you for the math portion of the Praxis Core exam. You will learn what this phrase means in the math world, tips for using the calculator, and exponents, square roots, and decimals. By the end of the lesson, you will have a solid understanding of math basics.
Lesson 04 - Math Basics: Fractions and Ratios
- This lesson focuses on fractions and ratios. If you're someone who has a fear of fractions, after completing this lesson you will realize that fractions are indeed your friends. You will learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals and fractions, as well as how to reduce and build up fractions.
Lesson 05 - Conversions, Percentages, and Measurements
- How much is 25% of 544? If an item that was originally priced at $175 dropped to a price of $105, what is the percentage of decrease? This lesson answers these questions as well as others involving percentages. You will also learn how to convert percentages into fractions and decimals, and vice versa.
Lesson 06 - Algebra
- Does the sight of the algebraic equation 3x - 5 + 7x = 9x - 2 scare you? If it does, by the end of this lesson it won't. You will discover everything you need to know about algebra to be successful on the math test. This includes what algebraic expressions are, how to combine like terms, and how to solve equations and inequalities.
Lesson 07 - Geometry
- Have you ever wondered how much fencing you will need for your backyard? To answer these questions, you have to know some geometry. In this lesson, you will get a crash course in geometry, where you will learn about area, perimeter, volume, lines, angles, shapes, congruence, similarity, and the infamous Pythagorean theorem.
Lesson 08 - Statistics and Probability
- Have you ever heard the terms mean, median, mode, and range? This lesson explores what these statistical terms mean and how to calculate them. After that, you will learn about the many types of graphs that you will come across on the test, including pie graphs, bar graphs, and pictographs.
Lesson 09 - XY Graphs
- In the final math lesson, you will learn how to make XY tables, plot points, and graph lines. You will discover how the slope of a line is just like driving a car. You will also learn how to do a geometric transformation, which is a lot easier than it sounds. At this point, you will be ready to try a full-length practice math test.
Lesson 10 - Grammar Review
- This lesson introduces the writing test of the Praxis Core exam. First, you will go back to the basics by reviewing parts of speech, sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar rules. This grammar refresher will give you a good foundation for the writing test.
Lesson 11 - The Writing Test and Its Questions
- Is it better to say, "PIN number" or "PIN"? In this lesson, you will also learn idiomatic expressions and commonly-confused words. Next, you will become familiar with the two types of questions that you will see on the multiple-choice portion of the writing test.
Lesson 12 - The Essays
- For the last lesson of the course, you will prepare for the essay portion of the writing test. You have two essays to prepare for—the argumentative essay and the source-based essay. You will see some sample essay prompts, learn how each essay is scored, and analyze examples of both good and bad essays. Finally, you will practice the process for writing two successful essays in the allotted amount of time.
Learner Outcomes
- Master the many areas of math that you will be tested on: number operations, negative numbers, exponents, square roots, order of operations, decimals, fractions, percentages, algebra, geometry, systems of measurement, and probability and statistics
- Identify the different types of reading questions you will come across
- Identify what constitutes high scoring essays
- Apply useful test-taking strategies