Certification and Assessment Guidelines July 2020 Please read and study the indicates pages from the new guidelines and answer the questions below before September 11. If you can submit by August 21 (10 days) we will forward to the recommending teachers who have committed to community assessments as input for their meeting in late August. OVERVIEW & EXPECTATIONS FOR LEVEL 1 Your Name (required) Your Email (required) 1. In the Spirit of the New Assessment Process …(pages 12-15), FAQ on Assessments (pages 57-59 ) • Simpler • Friendlier • Welcoming process • Community building • Create less anxiety for Candidate • Other? Add your own reflections below 2. Number of Assessors=3, how many if any virtual? Moderator optional (page 12). List and explain your answers: 3. Level 1 Assessment Expectations for Candidates practice: Compare and contrast the 4 questions regarding eligibility for Level 1 certification (page 6), teaching Level 1 (page 30,31) and Syllabus (pg 35-37) with the Objectives of Introductory II Assessment below (page 12 from Candidates Procedures). Practice 1. The candidate’s practice should demonstrate: a. Accuracy and Knowledge of Asana – as presented in Light on Yoga (LOY). b. Maturity of Practice – organization, presence, congruity, depth/wholeness of asana, appropriate use of props, containment, decisiveness and intelligence. c. Clarity – precision in alignment, structure, balance, attainment of asana and reflection of inner connectedness. d. Stability – dynamic stillness, steadiness, firmness and vibrancy. e. Practice and knowledge of pranayama – as per the syllabi and presented in Light on Pranayama. 2. The candidate must work to present as closely as possible the classical pose (as per the syllabus/syllabi and LOY). In the event of a recent injury, the candidate must be able to demonstrate an intelligent understanding of how to work with the injury in the requested pose. 3. If the candidate cannot execute the classical pose, the candidate must use the modifications with which they are working so that the assessors can see that the candidate has an intelligent understanding of the pose as presented in LOY or the text referenced in the syllabus. Which of the above apply to Level 1? What additional expectations (if any) should be added based on the new guidelines? DAY 1 – PRACTICE Note: This is scheduled for a full day, but there is NO timing, NO formal note taking in front of the students and NO marking. Instead of marking there is a flag to discontinue assessment for any candidate after the inversion practice and after the conducted performance. 1) Review Day 1 timings (page 20,21) from RIMYI and proposed schedule below (page 20,21) 8:15- 8:30 15 min. Candidates Orientation 8:30 -9:30 60 min. The Assessors and Candidates Practice Together 9:30-10:30 60 min. Break 10:30-11:30 15-30 min. Inversions Practice 11:30-12:30 60 min. Interaction Time 12:30-2:00 90 min. Lunch & Rapport Building 2:00 - 4:00 120 min. Free Time 4:00 -4:45 45 min. Demonstration – Conducted Performance 5:15 - 7:00 Dinner & Meeting (Assessors only) Do you recommend any adjustments to the schedule start and finish times? If so, indicate below. 2) “For the Assessor and Candidates practice together the assessors are expected to think judiciously with discretion to arrive upon a theme.” List 3-5 themes (or more) for the shared practice per the new guidelines to share in our meeting. 3) As an exercise complete Appendix 1A – Questions for feedback form (Group Practice) (page 60) as if you were a Level 1 Candidate. What questions might the Candidates have about this form and how could they be addressed ahead of time? 4) a) Inversions practice -Review 5 bullet points on page 20. Are there any other instructions that would be helpful for the Candidates? b) What actions by the candidates might cause you to issue a flag? (address all inversion asanas on the Level 1 syllabus) 5) Interaction Time based on group practice and feedback forms – list any questions you have regarding this time? 6) Lunch and Report Building – what is meant by “right kind of disposition by the assessors”? 7) a) Demonstration: Conducted Performance – create two 45 minute practices on a WORD document to share with the group and attach here. (no inversions etc. page 15) ] b) Based on the guiding principles listed on page 15 what might you see in a candidate that would cause you to issue a flag and deem the conducted performance unsatisfactory? 8) From the Moderator Procedures below: Assessment panel meeting Friday Evening (7:30-10:00pm): • Discuss the practice, pranayama, finalize marks and have assessors initial their pages. • Candidates who do not pass the Practice section of the Assessment are not allowed to proceed with the teaching section of the Assessment of the following days. Panel will inform the candidate if they have not passed the Practice section. • Appoint a panel member to note comments on the practice that would be appropriate for oral and written feedback. • Marking forms: the moderator takes each assessor’s marks and fills out a sheet for each candidate with the marks from each assessor averaged (Form D) If there is a great discrepancy between marks, it is to be discussed at this time. • Decide postures to assign for the teaching segments. Appoint a panel member to record the postures, and in the case of Introductory II assessments, in the correct order on separate pieces of paper for each candidate. Be precise (e.g., Ardha Matsyendrasana I, not Ardha Matsyendrasana). • In Intermediate Junior I, there must be a pose chosen from a previous syllabus so the candidate’s progress may be assessed. For other levels, a previous pose may be chosen, but poses from the current syllabus must be chosen. • Hand out sheets for marking teaching for Saturday and Sunday – two per candidate (Form C). • Panel members write in the assigned poses for Saturday and Sunday for each candidate on their teaching sheets. Note: Can only be done for Intro II as all other candidates determine order of teaching and announce just prior to teaching. • Appoint one of the assessors or AIT to orient the student volunteers in the morning and afternoon of each day’s teaching segment. How many of the following items can be eliminated? any new items to add? 9) From the Moderator Procedures below: Assessment Panel meeting Friday (9:30-11:30am): • Review for the level being assessed (see IYAC/ACYI Teacher Training Handbook – Training objectives for teaching and practice, • Review and discuss candidates’ applications with the panel. • Give out practice sheets and practice marking sheets (Forms A, B and C). Suggest that any problems noted in the applications be put on the practice sheets. • Review the practice, take questions and work with assessors to: • Decide where pauses should be in the practice to facilitate marking. • Decide on alternatives for menstruating candidates – be sure everyone is clear about what is to be accepted from such candidates. • Go over adaptations for limitations/injuries. • Review questions to be asked of candidates (Introductory II, Junior Intermediate I and II only) regarding pranayama. • Review marking sheets and ensure that all assessors are comfortable with the marking process. • Ensure that the numbers to draw for the order of teaching are prepared. • Decide on the positioning of candidates in the room for the practice segment. • Assign and prepare one AIT or host community volunteer to call and time the practice segment. If the host community volunteer can time and call the poses effectively, this frees the AIT to practice marking. • Assign and prepare the host community volunteers and/or AIT to be the: • Timer for the teaching segment. • Monitor (runner) for having candidates draw their teaching order and taking the list of poses to each candidate 40 -45 minutes prior to their teaching segment. How many of the following items can be eliminated? How many can occur before Day 1? Any to add? Other ideas and insights to contribute: Thank you for contributing your ideas and insights!
