I need testing suggestions

[Lindagerr]

I am getting closer to my final degree plan and I need some testing advice. I plan on taking the Race to save the planet DSST soon and that will finish my concentration credits. Oh I am going for my BA in Natural Science/Mathematics at TESC. I hope to eventually pass the Praxis I and or II and get a teaching certificate.

All of my other requirements except Gen. Ed. Electives and free electives are full. I was planning on taking CLEP Intro to Education Psychology, and DSST Organizational Behavior and Physical Geology as my Gen ed electives.

Then I was going to do DSST Foundations of Education and Astronomy and CLEP Human Growth & Development plus Excelsiors Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School for my free electives. I already have 7 of the free elective credits and I figured I would finish them off with 5 FEMA credits.

I would love to get others input on this plan.

I do not want to take any more MATH I have Algebra and Trig. so I can't do Precalc. and I don't think I could handle Calculus (it has been about 24 years since Trig)

I am not very interested in business so I don't think those type of courses are right for me.

I eventually would like to teach Science so I do lean toward the science exams with the Education ones to help me prepare for Praxis.

I am just wondering if anyone has suggestions to shorten my road, but still reach my objective,

[NAP]

How about the Biology, Chemistry, or Natural Sciences CLEPs? Are they worth 6 credits each at TESC? Do you already have credits in these subjects? These are the most recent exams I have taken. I left my feedback here (just keep scrolling):

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...#post66172

[cookderosa]

I am getting closer to my final degree plan and I need some testing advice. I plan on taking the Race to save the planet DSST soon and that will finish my concentration credits. Oh I am going for my BA in Natural Science/Mathematics at TESC. I hope to eventually pass the Praxis I and or II and get a teaching certificate.

All of my other requirements except Gen. Ed. Electives and free electives are full. I was planning on taking CLEP Intro to Education Psychology, and DSST Organizational Behavior and Physical Geology as my Gen ed electives.

Then I was going to do DSST Foundations of Education and Astronomy and CLEP Human Growth & Development plus Excelsiors Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School for my free electives. I already have 7 of the free elective credits and I figured I would finish them off with 5 FEMA credits.

I would love to get others input on this plan.

I do not want to take any more MATH I have Algebra and Trig. so I can't do Precalc. and I don't think I could handle Calculus (it has been about 24 years since Trig)

I am not very interested in business so I don't think those type of courses are right for me.

I eventually would like to teach Science so I do lean toward the science exams with the Education ones to help me prepare for Praxis.

I am just wondering if anyone has suggestions to shorten my road, but still reach my objective,

>.

Ok, I know you said no math, but if you did college algebra, there are 2 lower level algebras with ALEKS that you could whip out in no time. Really, the beginning algebra is very much like my son's 8th grade book. TESC does allow you to go lower even when you have higher credit in the subject (some colleges don't) so if you have the interest in trying ALEKS for a month, you might be able to knock out both of them for $20. (more expensive - but yielding 9 credits instead of 6 is intermediate algebra plus the college math clep)

Then my only other thought- have you checked if there will be any classes you'll need for your teacher's certificate? If so, you could use those for your degree now and kill two birds with one stone.

You are getting really close, and I think your line up looks great!

[Lindagerr]

I already have 18 Chemistry credits so that is out of the way. I hear Natural Scirence has a lot of Bio and I really don't like BioIf I took Natural science it should noy repeat scienec work I alredy do. then I cold yook into Jennifrs great suggstion about lower level Aleks, My Algebra was College Algebr MAT121 so are you saying there are two lover level Algebras I could knock off. That would also be great because thats what waant to get certified in middle school math and Science.

Then I could maybe pass up some of the hardrd sciece and Education,. I havent seen much feedback on Intro to education, Physical Geology.or Astronomy. The class i'm most worried about it thr ECE Literacy instructuion in the elementarey school. Has any one even lookes at that one.

Ok my time for bed I can't even type or slell right. good night I hope this makes sence when I read it tommorow.

[Lindagerr]

Thanks NAP
I already have 18 Chemistry credits so the chemistry CLEP is out. I also thought about the Natural Science, but I thought that had a lot of Bio. too.

I just rejoined the academy so I will have to check out your specific exam feedback. I need to get an idea of how astronomy will be I really don't know much about that, also phisical geology might be fun,

Jennifer
I always liked the way you think.. I have credit for collge Algebra they gave me credit for MAT-121 and Trig Mat129 what would ALEKS lower algebra be credit as? They might help prepare for Praxis too.

[oops I think I was so tired I forgot I answered last night] Edit

[NAP]

Hi Linda!

The Natural Sciences CLEP is 50% Biology and the other 50% is a combination of Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, and Meteorology. I had an easier time studying for the Biology CLEP (one topic) than I did for the multiple-topics of the Natural Sciences CLEP, even though I had taken Astronomy and Chemistry already. If you like all of the other topics, maybe you will do okay with that.

I also took the Astonomy DSST. I really enjoyed learning about the subject. I put my feedback here: http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...#post61942

(This information is in the general forum as part of my degree plan; I will add all of it to the specific exam feedback next month.)

Overall, I like your plan of taking science and education related tests, since that is what you want to do with your career. I also like that Jennifer has you considering math, too!

[Sunshine]

Hi Linda- I think the exams you've chosen sound great. I have an additional suggestion: the Physical Science DSST. It's a mix of chemistry and physics- no bio. With your background in chem, you might have a leg up on this one.

[Lindagerr]

Ok I changed my plan again:willynilly: I am so fickle!!

I really want to do this in time for Sept graduation which is July 1 Deadline.

I am taking Foundations of Education Friday ( I was desperate for a practice test so I bought the Rudman's).

Next I am planning Intro to Educational Psychology on March 5.

After that I have to decide should I go for the ECE Literacy Instruction in the Elementary school on April 2 or take a break from Education and go for the ALEKS Intermediate Algebra. (I need advice on this too, I had College Algebra 20+ years ago, I do teach some math how long do you think ALEKS will take me?)

Either way I will hope to have both of them done by April 16.

Then I will take the Natural Science CLEP on May 7 (or should I do Bio CLEP)

That leaves me needing 5 Fema (Almost done) and either Organizational Behavior, Lifespan developmental Psycology or Human Growth and development on May 28 that gives me a full month to get everything in to TESC.

So I need suggestions and advice on the above, which test are best, what order makes the most sense etc.

I also need to know if this seems doable with working as a sub 3-5 days a week and lots of family obligations. I am not getting any younger and it will still take me 6 months to a year after all this to get my teaching certification.

Thank you all for your support and advise I could not do it without you guys.

[soupbone]

After that I have to decide should I go for the ECE Literacy Instruction in the Elementary school on April 2 or take a break from Education and go for the ALEKS Intermediate Algebra. (I need advice on this too, I had College Algebra 20+ years ago, I do teach some math how long do you think ALEKS will take me?)


Then I will take the Natural Science CLEP on May 7 (or should I do Bio CLEP)

Aleks is very doable and I thought the Intermediate Algebra course was awesome. If you really buckle down on it you could get it done in 4-5 hours easy.

I say take Natural Sciences. 50% is Biology and the Natural Science feedback section is dead on. You know I stressed bad for the test but after I finished I know that I shouldn't have. If you like science go with Natural Science.

[JanusthePhoenix]

Org. Behavior, while very much psych related, is still a business course. I would recommend it, but then again I am a business major. :o Have you thought about history? Civil War and Recon isn't very difficult, and actually rather fun to study for with the Ken Burns series. I haven't done any of the other ones you mentioned except Nat Sci, which is just basic HS level science.