Dr. M's Content Specific Quiz

In introducing a new unit in your life science class, you engage students in thinking about new vocabulary terms. You brainstorm with them about ways to discover meanings of the words and provide tools for research before they work on the assignment in groups of three.

Does this activity promote adaptive learning skills? Why or why not?

• Yes; because it increases students’ vocabulary.

• No; because the words they learn will only be useful in their science class.

• Yes; because students can transfer their knowledge of both the new words and the process of discovering their meanings to other classes or life situations.

• No; because adaptive learning skills require the use of technology, and that is not a part of this assignment.

Which statement about the brain is true?

• Its working memory can hold information for up to an hour even if it is not used.

• Most people only use a small percentage of their brain in their lifetime.

• It can one only conduct one process at a time.

• It has limits.

One of an AP literature teacher’s regular assignments has been to ask students to select short texts from a list and create a presentation, as well as lead a class discussion reporting on various criteria provided for them.  This type of assignment could best be described as a/an ___ activity.

• standards-based

• oral interpretation

• reciprocal teaching

• project-based learning

At the principal’s request, an ESL teacher has become an expert on the state and/or national standards and often consults with colleagues who are trying to strengthen the alignment between their instructional strategies and the standards. What would be the most helpful piece of advice for the ESL teacher to share with their colleagues?

• Traditional teaching strategies are the most efficient way to cover the material students need to learn to be successful on state and/or national assessments.

• Problem-based learning is the best way to insure your ESL students – and others with learning differences – achieve the standards outlined by the state and/or national standards.

• The brain learns best by processing visual information, so it is important to use learning strategies that tap into that processor if you are going to maximize learning for all of your students.

• Students will be most successful if you give them opportunities to demonstrate their understanding along the way rather than waiting for a summative assessment to determine who is falling behind.

Two colleagues are talking about the use of technology in the classroom. One is trying to convince the other of the importance of using internet resources. Which is the most compelling argument?

• Using the internet is the best way to promote critical and creative thinking.

• If we limit our teaching to the four walls of the classroom, our students lose interest and not like our class.

• Our students use the internet whether we like it or not. Our job is to show them how to find, evaluate, and use the best of what is out there.

• The internet is what is relevant to children and adolescents today. Using it is the only way to get them fully engaged in what we’re trying to teach

Dr. Mapp enjoys working with colleagues in his courses and seeing them succeed.

• True

• False