Technology Requirement Policy

Since teachers must know how to use technology to optimize teaching and learning, the professional education programs will prepare professional education candidates to apply knowledge to essential tools of technology to the teaching/learning process; but, first, the candidate must enter the professional education program with a working knowledge of basic computer applications.

The Professional Education Council, the policy-making body for the Professional Education Unit at The University of Southern Mississippi, has mandated that all students entering professional education programs must demonstrate basic technology literacy.  This requirement provides a “more level playing field” among the candidates allowing the professional education faculty to build on technological skills that will assist the candidates with integrating these skills into instructional framework and teaching.

Since the fall semester 2003, all students applying for admission to Professional Education at The University of Southern Mississippi have been required to obtain a passing score on each of the five modules of the Basic Technology Literacy Exam (BTLE).  The five modules consist of work processing, spreadsheet, telecommunications, presentation, and database.  Students who are unsuccessful in obtaining a passing score on any of the five BTLE modules will have their passing scores “banked” for one semester.  If a student is unsuccessful in passing all five BTLE modules by the completion of the semester following the initial testing, all scores will become invalid; and the student must take all modules of the BTLE again.

The cost for the Basic Technology Literacy Exam initial testing is $25.00.  This amount will be charged to the student’s account upon test registration.  If the student does not test on the registered date, or if the student registers for a second testing date, an additional testing fee will be charged.  The cost for retesting is $5.00 per module and will be charged to the student’s account upon registration.  Initial test and retest registration fees are non-refundable.