Good assessment's contribution to diagnostic appraisal is what makes it an aid to coaching. While originally designed for initial teacher licensing, these classroom performance assessments have proven time and again to contribute to other critical needs facing all teachers. For beginning teachers , the 19 criteria taken as a whole define good teaching in a meaningful way. Further, the top scoring level for each criterion describes exemplary performance in that aspect of teaching. Thus, just when beginning teachers are feeling daunted, they have a framework that both demystifies and structures the tasks of teaching.
Teaching is still complex, but no longer overwhelming.
Indeed, depending on the number of times candidates are assessed and the type of feedback they receive, Praxis III can yield the equivalent of an Individual Education Plan for each beginning teacher. For assessors , the system offers a framework for looking at teaching and for reconsidering one's own practice. Many assessors report that the training experience was among the best staff development they had ever had. To the extent that mentors are also teachers, they too can become more reflective about their practice. These individuals, however, find even greater value from Praxis III in learning how to be better mentors.