Question 1

Kelly is a second year teacher. She has become very interested in the field of cognition and wants to pursue further study in that field. Which of the following would be appropriate actions for Ms. Kelly to take in this pursuit? I) Researching professional and academic literature
II) Attending graduate courses
III) Conducting independent research
IV) Experimenting in her classroom

Accepted Answer

Of all the above options, the one that would not be appropriate would be experimenting in her classroom. A teaching environment requires developed learning objectives and techniques to assess the outcome of instruction. While the observations made during teaching might inform research, during teaching and learning is not a time a teacher should experiment with her students.

Question 2

During Ms. Kelly's pursuit of professional development goals, which of the following can provide credit in the attainment of the goals? I) Workshops
II) Graduate Courses
III) Conferences
IV) Independent research

Accepted Answer

I, II, III and IV. All of the above resources can offer credit towards professional development goals. Plan for and document the resources used during professional development.

Question 3

During Ms. Kelly's pursuit of professional development goals, which of the following can provide a self-reflective experience for her development?

Accepted Answer

Collaborative journaling with a peer. This would offer the most self-reflective experience of all of the above. The other options would promote knowledge and insight, but the process and journaling and the ability to reread that journal at a later date is a uniquely reflective exercise.

Question 4

Kelly and Ms. Baker have both been teaching less than three years. They each feel that their classroom management techniques could use improvement and decide to work together to improve their skills. They decide to have a series of classroom visits to observe and provide feedback. During class, the visiting teacher recognizes one student who is particularly disruptive. Which of the following would be productive toward achieving the goal of each teacher improving classroom management skills?

Accepted Answer

The visiting teacher suggesting how to handle the situation differently after class. In order to work toward the goal of each teacher improving their own skills, the teacher needs to receive feedback, support and ideas to be effective. Handling the classroom management work for another teacher during observation of the class can have a negative impact on the development of that goal.

Question 5

Kelly and Ms. Baker have both been teaching less than three years. They each feel that their classroom management techniques could use improvement and decide to work together to improve their skills. They decide to have a series of classroom visits to observe and provide feedback. Which of the following additional tools can they also employ? I) Self-reflective journaling
II) Incident Analysis
III) Peer observation
IV) Student Feedback

Accepted Answer

I, II, III and IV. All of the above would be appropriate tools to support the goal of improving classroom management techniques.

Question 6

Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate time for a teacher to write in a self-reflective journal as part of his professional development program?

Accepted Answer

During guided learning. That would not be an appropriate time to be engaged in self-reflective writing. During guided learning the teacher needs to be actively observing the student. Writing during class if students are also engaged in the same type of writing would be completely appropriate.

Question 7

DeMarco is interested to know how her students represented in the socioeconomic bracket that they are in, do on state and national assessments. Which of the following information can she gain through an investigation of state and national test scores? I) Differences in how gender groups perform
II) Differences in how ethnic groups perform
III) Differences in how economic groups perform
IV) Differences in how students with learning disabilities perform

Accepted Answer

I, II, III and IV. All of the above information can be found in a basic analysis of test scores. Results are reported by subgroups on national standards. States may have variances in the data they report. Consulting the states' Department of Education website will provide direction in this analysis.

Question 8

DeMarco uses the analysis of test scores to plan instruction. She conducts a lot of research about state and national achievement levels and wants to consider what she does in the classroom to help students achieve to the highest level. Which of the following practices might Ms. DeMarco put in place to track and foster this goal?

Accepted Answer

Self-reflective journal. A self-reflective journal would be a place suited for tracking a professional development goal and seeing how it develops. It would provide an opportunity to reflect on teaching shortly after teaching and again months later.

Question 9

DeMarco wants to maintain a portfolio of work that reflects her teaching. Which of the following items would be appropriate to put in a portfolio of this nature? I) Student work
II) Lesson plans
III) Self-assessments
IV) Peer assessments

Accepted Answer

I, II, III and IV. All of the above would be appropriate items for a portfolio that reflects a year of teaching. Often with student work, the name will need to be removed or blacked out. All these are valuable tools for reflection.

Question 10

Within the education context, when there is discussion about "multiple intelligences," which of the following educational areas is most impacted?

Accepted Answer

Classroom interactions. Multiple intelligences is a theory, developed by Howard Gardner, that students are equipped with a variety of different intelligence types - bodily, verbal/linguistic, mathematic, interpersonal, etc. The area where this has the greatest impact is the classroom.

Question 11

Studies of cognition show a vast array of cognitive and behavioral processes are "hard-wired" in place. In other words, these processes exist before a child is ever educated. One implication for learning is that students possess what is naturally required to learn something. The implication is that if behavioral processes are "hard-wired" which of the following may NOT be an effective approach with students?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning. If behaviors, learning or social, are a "hard-wired" component of the mind, then no amount of conditioning can erase its existence.

Question 12

Studies of cognition show that many cognitive and behavioral processes are "hard-wired" in place. In other words, these processes exist before a child is ever educated. One implication for learning is that students possess what is naturally required to learn something. Another implication is that children are more alike than dissimilar. What is the implication on this for the giving of standardized assessments?

Accepted Answer

Standardized assessments are fair. If students are (generally) born with the same existent cognitive and behavioral processes, and then are educated in alignment to standards, and then tested on a standardized assessment, this would be a fair form of assessment.

Question 13

Assessments like TIMSS (Trends International Math and Science Study) and NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) are no-stakes tests and the scores of individual test-takers are not reported. What would be the purpose of an assessment like this? I) To establish benchmarks of performance
II) To gather data
III) To determine the placement of a student

Accepted Answer

I and II. Benchmarking assessments do not determine the placement of a student. Such assessments gather data and produce result at a level less individualized than that of the student level. It depends on how the assessment maker decides to disaggregate the data.

Question 14

Which of the following places offer statistical data and information related to education? I) National Center for Education Statistics
II) ERIC databases
III) Online learning communities

Accepted Answer

I, II and III. All of the above would be places to visit while researching educational matters. The ERIC databases are library search engines that access education related materials. NCES offers an online database. Online learning communities offer a variety of sources and references to information.

Question 15

Which of the following resources would offer information to teachers on additional instructional and classroom management tools that have been used effectively?

Accepted Answer

Professional magazines. Professional magazines provide articles with suggestions for approaches to anything from behavior to learning to relaxing. Scores and standards will suggest areas for increased attention to instruction. Newspaper reporting will report on local trends, national statistics, and educational items of interest to mass readers and not aimed at professionals, per se.

Question 16

Dewberry teaches at a school that has a high percentage of students in the underperforming category of reading on their state assessment. Which of the following pieces of information should she look for when she analyzes where to focus emphasis in instruction?

Accepted Answer

The types of questions students got wrong. Understanding the types of questions that students are unable to answer can help a teacher tailor instructional objectives.

Question 17

Dewberry teaches at a school that has a high percentage of students in the underperforming category of math on their state assessment. Which of the following pieces of information can the teacher access to improve her instruction so her students succeed in the state assessment? I) The types of questions students got wrong
II) The types of material covered on the past assessment
III) The learning objectives for the grade level
IV) The types of questions students got right

Accepted Answer

I, II, III and IV. All of the above pieces of information can be gleaned from an analysis of test scores and from the state standards for education. All the above information can be used when designing units of instruction that will help students succeed in their state assessment.

Question 18

Ridgecrest High School is a standards-based school. Students do well on statewide assessments. The district emphasizes that classroom practices be aligned to the state assessment. It is a small school where teachers lead instruction and students complete their assignments. Following the state assessments in May the only remaining assessment are class finals that are developed based on departmental guidelines. The school follows which of the following traditions?

Accepted Answer

Essentialist tradition. An essentialist approach tends to be subject-focused and teacher-directed. It teaches the essentials in the most direct possible manner. The assessments would be given in a standardized format aligned to standardized instruction.

Question 19

Which of the following are functions of a students Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team? I) Planning behavioral modifications
II) Planning for a suitable learning environment for the child
III) Planning appropriate modifications for taking assessments
IV) Finding proper supporting material for the child

Accepted Answer

I, II, III and IV. The IEP team plans for and approves the generalized educational plan for a student with a disability. The plans may focus on physical requirements, cognitive requirements, or behavioral requirements.

Question 20

Which of the following groups of people are NOT involved in creating an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for a student with a disability that requires additional services in an educational setting?

Accepted Answer

Athletic coaches. A student's little league coach, for instance, would not be involved in the creation of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Quiz 42: Professional

During Ms. Kelly's pursuit of professional development goals, which of the following can provide credit in the attainment of the goals? I) Workshops II) Graduate Courses III) Conferences IV) Independent research