For Kent State education majors, learning how to teach reading, writing and other subjects that are standardized by Ohio, constantly evolves.

Over the years, Ohio has used many different forms of standardized curriculum and testing to assess students, teachers, schools and policies. The forms of testing used by the state vary from year-to-year and often change. This directly impacts not only students who take these tests, but also college students who are being trained to administer them.

According to stateimpact.npr.org, Ohio adopted The Common Core, a standardized set of curriculum for math and English, in 2010. One of the tests that was implemented along with the Common Core was the PARCC, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, in 2014. According to an ohio.com article, the assessment was abandoned in July of 2015 in favor of the AIR, or American Institutes for Research, another type of test.

Education students and professors must be aware of changes that take place in the field. Danielle Osentoski, a senior special education major, said education is a moving career that’s different each day.

 “The standards are important, but even if they change, the way that I teach does not change,” Bridget Mulvey, an assistant professor of science education, said. “I just talk about different standards in the same kinds of teaching scenarios.”

This does not mean the education major curriculum does not evolve though, Mulvey said.

“I love to change things to make (the class curriculum) better,” Mulvey said. “It is informed by standards in the state and the nation, but it’s more than that. As we learn more about good teaching though research, that is integrated into my classes.”

Contact Megan Hermensky at [email protected].