What is the Propulse Platform?

What is the Propulse Platform?

Researchers at Mississippi State University have created a performance‐based assessment platform designed to pinpoint technology-literacy skills of educational users that can be mapped to a variety of standards, skill sets or objectives. The goal of Propulse is to move the focus, when needed, from application‐specific knowledge toward transfer of learning by focusing on key concepts in a cost-effective manner for all educational organizations. There are three assessments under this platform: one for teachers, one for students, and one for administrators. The primary one used is Propulse for Teachers, which counts towards career and technical education teacher endorsement.

Prescriptive

Propulse Platform was created to give educational organizations an accurate measure of their technology professional-development initiatives. Educators can now know exactly what is necessary to become technology literate according to ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards.

Approved

This assessment was adopted as an approved technology-literacy assessment for all vocational educators, administrators and students in the state of Mississippi.

Reporting

The system provides overall test-score reports, as well as detailed, individual skill and standard reports for educators and administrators. Propulse is designed to evaluate any set of standards, skills or learning objectives for evaluating grants, guiding professional-development programs or certifying an organization’s clientele.

Requirements

Propulse is built on the Adobe Flash technology, which is preinstalled on 98 percent of Internet‐connected computers. Our assessment systems are also designed to lower cost and time requirements by utilizing automated scoring and reporting.

Get Started

Log in to the Propulse Platform to get started. Note: Users will need Flash player and pop-up blockers turned off to view site properly.

Propulse for Teachers

Propulse for Teachers is a technology-competency assessment available for career and technical educators who are not required to take the IC3 assessment for endorsement. For more information regarding the technology-competency requirements for endorsement licensure in your program area, please refer to the Guidelines and Clarification of Requirements for Issuance of Occupational Educator Licenses. There is no charge for career and technical education instructors in Mississippi to take the assessment. There is an assessment fee for academic instructors.

The Propulse assessment is offered in two versions. Participants should choose the version best supported by the software used in their district. The versions available include Microsoft Office 2003 (or open-source) and Microsoft Office 2007. Participants should specify which version they would like when contacting their Propulse testing site to request an appointment for testing.

Propulse Testing Sites and Dates

Please contact your preferred testing site one week in advance to schedule a testing time. 

Benton County Vocational Center
3rd Wednesday of the month at 3:00 p.m.
Merri Gadd – mgadd@benton.k12.ms.us – 601.224.3108

Choctaw County Career and Technical Center
By Appointment
Becky Stewart – beckystewart@choctaw.k12.ms.us – 662.285.4152
   

Fallin Career and Technology Center
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 3:00 p.m.
Ginger Cowart – gincowart@natchez.k12.ms.us – 601.445.2902

Grenada Career and Technical Center
1st Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m.
Bonnie Brunt – bbrunt3@yahoo.com – 662.226.596
   

Harrison County Career Technical Center
Monday-Friday by appointment
Debbie Wilson – dvwilson@harrison.k12.ms.us – 229.832.6652

Keys Technology Center, Ocean Springs
2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 1:00 p.m.
Jan Griffin – jgriffin@ossdms.org – 228.872.3411
   

Lamar County Center for Technical Education
Saturdays by appointment
Suzanne Kelly – suzanne.kelly@lamarcountyschools.org – 601.794.1063

Leake County Career & Technical Center
Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and other times by appointment
April Bell – abell@leakesd.org – 601.267.8442
   

Leland Vocational Center
Monday-Thursday by appointment
Kavarica O’Neal – koneal@leland.gaggle.net – 

662.686.5075

Madison County Career and Technical Center
4th Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and other Tuesdays by appointment
Sandra Hutchinson – shutchinson@madison-schools.com – 601.355.9893
   

McKellar Technology Center
1st Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. when school is in session
Also, by appointment
Melanie Ford – FordM@columbus.k12.ms.us – 662.241.7290

Meridian Community College
Monday-Friday by appointment
Darlene Mayatt – dmayatt@meridiancc.edu – 601.484.8724 or 601.481.1370
   

Newton Career Center
1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month at 1:00 p.m.
Tracy Dearing – tbdearing@nmsd.k12.ms.us – 601.683.6338

Pascagoula Applied Technology Center
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 2:00 p.m.
Teri Peters – tpeters@psd.ms – 228.938.6579/6583
   

Petal High School
2nd Tuesday of the month at 3:00 p.m.
Brad Amacker – brad.amacker@petalschools.com – 601.584.4065

Research and Curriculum Unit
Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
 Mary Brook– mary.brook@rcu.msstate.edu – 662.325.2510
   

Scott County Technology Center
2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m.
Patricia Thrash – pthrash@scott.k12.ms.us – 601.469.4413

Stone County High School
3rd Thursday of the month at 3:00 p.m.
Barbara Fowler – bfowler@stone.k12.ms.us – 601.928.5492
   

Wayne County Vocational Technical Center
1st Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m.
Kristi Kittrell – kkittrell@wcsdms.com – 601.735.5036

   
 

Test-Prep Material

 

Propulse Basics

Propulse Basics is a 4-week course that is delivered online through the RCU Blackboard system. It is an overview of the subject matter included on the Propulse assessment, and it is intended to aid in understanding the topics on the exam. This course is open to all CTE educators who are NOT already IC3 certified. The nonrefundable registration fee is $100. To register, go to http://myplc.rcu.msstate.edu.

 

Propulse for Students

Propulse for Students is an assessment that is being developed for ICT I & II students.

Looking for more information? Visit the Propulse Platform website.