Question 1

Three of the following teaching strategies should help students benefit from a discovery-learning situation.Which strategy is least likely to be helpful?
A)Mr.Azama takes his students to the site of a Civil War battle and says, "Okay, look around and see what you can find that might be of interest to your peers."
B)Ms.Berkowitz asks students to write down their discoveries about what happens to a chemical solution when they heat it.
C)Ms.Clift gives students several guidelines to follow as they conduct an experiment in their chemistry class.
D)Mr.DiCicco makes sure students have some knowledge about triangles, including the concepts of base and height, and then provides an exercise through which they discover for themselves the formula for calculating a triangle's area.

Accepted Answer

Option A is least likely to be helpful because it lacks structure and guidance, which are crucial for effective discovery learning. Students might not know what to look for or how to make meaningful observations without some direction.

Question 2

Three of the following are strategies that good readers use to enhance their comprehension.Which one is not a strategy that good readers commonly use?
A)They ask themselves questions to make sure they understand.
B)They take steps to clarify possible sources of confusion.
C)They anticipate what is likely to come next in the passage.
D)They read through material rapidly rather than slowly.

Accepted Answer

Good readers do not typically read through material rapidly, as this can actually hinder comprehension. Instead, they read carefully and deliberately, taking the time to fully process and understand the text.

Question 3

Class discussions can serve several useful purposes.For which one of the following purposes is a class discussion least likely to be helpful?
A)To promote transfer of mathematical principles to real-world problems
B)To help students find new insights in classic works of fiction
C)To promote conceptual change in science
D)To facilitate the memorization of a poem

Accepted Answer

Class discussions are not an effective means of facilitating memorization, which is better served by practice, repetition, and rote learning strategies. The other options all involve higher-order thinking skills, critical analysis, and problem-solving, making them more amenable to productive class discussions.

Question 4

Only one of the following statements about discovery-learning and inquiry-learning activities is accurate.Which one is true?
A)They make more efficient use of class time than lectures do.
B)They are more appropriate for teaching lower-level skills than for teaching higher- level skills.
C)They consistently promote higher achievement than more expository approaches.
D)They occasionally lead to incorrect understandings about classroom subject matter.

Accepted Answer

While discovery-learning and inquiry-learning activities can be effective teaching methods, they also have the potential to lead to misunderstandings or incorrect understandings about the subject matter. This is because students are often left to their own devices, without the guidance of an expert or teacher, and may come to false conclusions or incomplete understandings of the topic at hand.

Question 5

Which one of the following most accurately describes a base group in cooperative learning?
A)A group that convenes for an entire day to plan and carry out a lengthy project
B)A group that meets once a month to discuss each student's academic progress
C)A group that provides ongoing academic support for its members
D)A group that works on knowledge and skills that are prerequisites for later material

Accepted Answer

A base group in cooperative learning is a small, ongoing group of students who provide academic and emotional support to one another. They work together to achieve common goals and improve their individual learning outcomes. Option C best describes this type of group as it emphasizes ongoing academic support for its members. Option A describes a project group, Option B describes a mentoring group, and Option D describes a prerequisite group.

Question 6

Which one of the following uses of a computer in instruction is most similar to an authentic activity?
A)A computer game that promotes automaticity for basic math facts
B)A computer simulation that allows students to conduct an experiment
C)A computer-based instructional program that teaches the basics of first aid
D)A computer-based instructional program that teaches the various parts of the human digestive system

Accepted Answer

A computer simulation that allows students to conduct an experiment is the most similar to an authentic activity because it allows the students to engage in hands-on problem-solving and decision-making, which closely mimics real-world situations. The other options involve basic skill-drills or rote memorization, which are less authentic in terms of real-world problem-solving.

Question 7

Three of the teachers below are using strategies consistent with the textbook's recommendations for holding class discussions.Which teacher is using a strategy that is not consistent with the textbook's recommendations?
A)When his class is discussing a controversial issue, Mr.Poston sometimes asks students to defend positions opposite to what they actually believe.
B)Mr.Morris encourages shy students to remain silent throughout a discussion if they prefer to do so.
C)Mr.Sheehan reminds students that they can criticize ideas but not people.
D)Mr.Retzlaff has students first discuss a topic in small groups; he then convenes everyone for a whole-class discussion in which each group shares its ideas.

Accepted Answer

The textbook recommends that teachers encourage all students to participate in class discussions, including shy students. Encouraging them to remain silent goes against this recommendation.

Question 8

Three of the following strategies are recommended for conducting class discussions.Which one is not recommended?
A)Communicate the idea that changing one's mind about an issue is a sign of thoughtful reflection.
B)Ask students to try to identify a compromise position that takes diverse perspectives into account.
C)Use a class discussion to explore a topic students know nothing about.
D)Bring some kind of closure on the topic at the end of the discussion.

Accepted Answer

While it can be beneficial to explore topics that students know little about, it is not recommended to conduct a class discussion solely around a topic that students know nothing about. This can lead to confusion and disengagement from the discussion. It is important to choose a topic that is relevant and interesting to the students and that they have at least some prior knowledge or experience with.

Question 9

Which one of the following teachers is using reciprocal teaching?
A)Mr.Armando has students work in pairs, testing each other's knowledge about a topic.
B)Working with a small group, Mr.Bromley gives each student a chance to ask questions of his or her classmates regarding a section of text they are all reading.
C)When students ask questions about things they don't understand, Ms.Cromwell asks if another student can answer those questions before she answers them herself.
D)Before a test, Ms.Dievers has each student describe the strategies he or she plans to use while studying.

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal teaching is a teaching method where students take turns leading discussions about a text. In option B, Mr. Bromley is giving each student a chance to ask questions and discuss the text with their classmates, which is an example of reciprocal teaching. The other options involve different teaching methods like cooperative learning, peer tutoring, and metacognitive strategy instruction.

Question 10

Which one of the following statements is most accurate about the value of homework in the elementary grades?
A)It definitely enhances students' learning.
B)It tends to be effective only when it focuses on drill and practice.
C)It has little effect on students' learning but may help them develop self-regulatory skills.
D)It seems to promote learning in girls but not in boys, perhaps because girls are more conscientious about doing it.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that homework in the elementary grades has little effect on students' academic achievement. However, it may help students develop self-regulatory skills, such as time-management and self-discipline, which are important for success in school and beyond. Therefore, option C is the most accurate statement. Option A is too definitive and not true for all students. Option B is too narrow as homework can be effective in other ways besides drill and practice. Option D is not supported by research and is a generalization based on gender stereotypes.

Question 11

Which one of the following is the best example of an authentic in-class activity?
A)Listing four different kinds of sedimentary rocks
B)Discussing reasons why World War I occurred
C)Designing a bridge using principles of physics
D)Putting definitions of new terms in your own words

Accepted Answer

Designing a bridge using principles of physics requires students to apply their knowledge in a hands-on and practical manner. This activity is likely to engage students and promote deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Question 12

Only one of the teachers below is using a strategy consistent with general recommendations regarding the use of homework.Which one is using a recommended strategy?
A)Mr.Trahan gives his students a challenging writing assignment and suggests that they ask their parents to help them with it at home.
B)Mr.Fox sometimes gives students an optional assignment-homework they can do if they want to.
C)Ms.Hewitt counts homework as being worth 50% of students' final grades.
D)Mr.Reichel assigns 20 extra math problems after he learns that his class has misbehaved for a substitute teacher.

Accepted Answer

Giving students the option to do homework if they choose to is consistent with the general recommendation of not overwhelming students with too much homework and allowing them to have some control over their learning. All of the other options either involve assigning too much homework, not giving appropriate guidance, or using homework punitively.

Question 13

Three of the following practices are recommended when assigning in-class activities.Which one is not necessarily recommended?
A)Always focus on higher-level thinking skills.
B)Give frequent feedback about students' progress.
C)Provide the support necessary for students to be successful.
D)Individualize assignments based somewhat on students' current skill levels.

Accepted Answer

While higher-level thinking skills are important to develop, it is not necessarily recommended to always focus on them in every in-class activity. Different activities may require different levels of thinking and it's important to vary the type of activities and skills being developed.

Question 14

Three of the following are purposes that asking questions in class can serve.Which one is not a typical use of asking questions?
A)To encourage students to elaborate on classroom material
B)To determine whether students understand classroom material
C)To help students monitor their own comprehension of classroom material
D)To decrease the extent to which students need to cognitively process classroom material

Accepted Answer

Asking questions in class is typically meant to help students engage with, understand, and apply classroom material. It is not meant to decrease cognitive processing. In fact, asking and answering questions in class can actually increase cognitive processing and deep learning.

Question 15

Which one of the following conditions is recommended for effective learning in a discovery-learning activity?
A)Having freedom to explore one's environment without any structure or restraint
B)Having a lesson that has been broken down into small, discrete pieces
C)Having some prior knowledge about the material being explored
D)Having an advance organizer for the lesson

Accepted Answer

Having some prior knowledge about the material being explored can help learners make connections and understand the new information more effectively. Without any prior knowledge, learners may struggle to understand the context and relevance of the new information being presented. A and B are not recommended because they do not provide enough guidance or structure for effective learning. D, having an advance organizer, can also be helpful, but it is not as essential as having prior knowledge.

Question 16

Which one of the following statements probably best explains why reciprocal teaching is so effective?
A)Students become increasingly capable of abstract thought.
B)Students have numerous opportunities to practice using visual imagery.
C)Students can observe the ways that their classmates process information.
D)Students believe they must compete with others and therefore work harder.

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal teaching allows students to observe how their classmates process information and engage in meaningful dialogue about the content. This helps students develop metacognitive skills and strategies for comprehending and analyzing text.

Question 17

As a teacher, you want to improve your students' ability to learn from their textbooks. Considering research results described in the textbook, which technique should you use?
A)Reciprocal teaching
B)Authentic activities
C)Cooperative learning
D)Direct instruction

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal teaching is a technique that has been shown to improve students' ability to learn from their textbooks. This technique involves teaching students to actively engage with the text by summarizing, questioning, clarifying, and predicting. The teacher models these strategies and then gradually releases responsibility to the students. Students work in small groups to apply the strategies and support each other in their learning. Overall, reciprocal teaching has been found to be a highly effective technique for improving reading comprehension and learning from textbooks.

Question 18

Using the guidelines presented in the textbook, choose the topic below that would be most appropriate for a classroom discussion.
A)Interpreting Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven
B)Learning the various tenses of the verb to be
C)Studying the history of the United Nations
D)Learning how gravity affects the speed with which an object falls to the earth

Accepted Answer

Interpreting literature is a common topic for classroom discussions and aligns with the language arts curriculum.

Question 19

Mr.Phillips wants his students to develop the ability to separate and control variables in scientific experimentation.Which one of the following instructional methods is most likely to help his students achieve this goal?
A)Scaffolded inquiry-learning activities
B)Small-group reciprocal-teaching activities
C)Individualized assignments using computer spreadsheets
D)Unstructured discovery-learning activities

Accepted Answer

Scaffolded inquiry-learning activities provide opportunities for students to practice separating and controlling variables in a structured and supportive way. Through this approach, students can gradually build their skills and develop their ability to conduct scientific experiments with greater precision and accuracy. Small-group reciprocal-teaching activities, individualized assignments using computer spreadsheets, and unstructured discovery-learning activities may also be useful instructional methods, but they may not be as effective in promoting the development of this specific skill.

Question 20

The four teachers below are assigning homework to their students.Which teacher is giving an assignment that's inconsistent with general recommendations regarding the appropriate use of homework?
A)Mr.Rhodes asks his eighth graders to write the answers to a series of questions based on material they've been studying over the past week.
B)Ms.Wong asks her sixth graders to make up sentences using each of their new spelling words.
C)Mr.Needham asks his first graders to bring something from home that begins with the letter B.
D)Ms.Powell asks her high school algebra students to read the next two chapters in their textbook and then do the problems at the end of each chapter.

Accepted Answer

This assignment is inconsistent with general recommendations because it is giving a lot of homework in one subject (math) and may not allow for students to have enough time for other activities and subjects. The recommended guideline for homework is that the amount of time spent on homework should be about 10 minutes per grade level, per night. High school students are generally expected to have 2-3 hours of homework per night, but this assignment may exceed that amount.

Quiz 12: Instructional Strategies

Three of the following teaching strategies should help students benefit from a discovery-learning situation.Which strategy is least likely to be helpful?

Three of the following are strategies that good readers use to enhance their comprehension.Which one is not a strategy that good readers commonly use?

Class discussions can serve several useful purposes.For which one of the following purposes is a class discussion least likely to be helpful?

Only one of the following statements about discovery-learning and inquiry-learning activities is accurate.Which one is true?

Which one of the following most accurately describes a base group in cooperative learning?

Which one of the following uses of a computer in instruction is most similar to an authentic activity?

Three of the teachers below are using strategies consistent with the textbook's recommendations for holding class discussions.Which teacher is using a strategy that is not consistent with the textbook's recommendations?

Three of the following strategies are recommended for conducting class discussions.Which one is not recommended?

Which one of the following teachers is using reciprocal teaching?

Which one of the following statements is most accurate about the value of homework in the elementary grades?

Which one of the following is the best example of an authentic in-class activity?

Only one of the teachers below is using a strategy consistent with general recommendations regarding the use of homework.Which one is using a recommended strategy?

Three of the following practices are recommended when assigning in-class activities.Which one is not necessarily recommended?

Three of the following are purposes that asking questions in class can serve.Which one is not a typical use of asking questions?

Which one of the following conditions is recommended for effective learning in a discovery-learning activity?

Which one of the following statements probably best explains why reciprocal teaching is so effective?

As a teacher, you want to improve your students' ability to learn from their textbooks. Considering research results described in the textbook, which technique should you use?

Using the guidelines presented in the textbook, choose the topic below that would be most appropriate for a classroom discussion.

Mr.Phillips wants his students to develop the ability to separate and control variables in scientific experimentation.Which one of the following instructional methods is most likely to help his students achieve this goal?

The four teachers below are assigning homework to their students.Which teacher is giving an assignment that's inconsistent with general recommendations regarding the appropriate use of homework?