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Section 4: Sample Selected-Response Questions
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities for Trade and Industrial Education 6–12 (270)

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This section presents some sample exam questions for you to review as part of your preparation for the exam. To demonstrate how each competency may be assessed, sample questions are accompanied by the competency that they measure. While studying, you may wish to read the competency before and after you consider each sample question. Please note that the competency statements do not appear on the actual exam.

For each sample exam question, there is a correct answer and a rationale for each answer option. The sample questions are included to illustrate the formats and types of questions you will see on the exam; however, your performance on the sample questions should not be viewed as a predictor of your performance on the actual exam.

Domain I—Designing Instruction and Assessment to Promote Student Learning

Competency 001—The trade and industrial education teacher understands human developmental processes and uses this knowledge to plan instruction and assessments that motivate students and are responsive to their developmental characteristics and needs.

1. A twelfth-grade teacher can help keep students engaged in learning and help them address the challenges of young adulthood by taking which of the following approaches?

  1. Treating students as equals and becoming friends with them outside the school setting to help them with the social, emotional and academic challenges of young adults facing life after high school.
  2. Creating lessons derived from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which include elements that directly relate to the challenges the students are facing, and promoting positive and effective ways to handle those challenges.
  3. Allowing students to use some of the class period as free time to work on homework from other classes, relax or catch up on their sleep because of the increased pressures they are experiencing as seniors in high school.
  4. Increasing the amount of classwork and homework assigned in order to keep students constantly working so that they will stay engaged in their learning and focused on school rather than on the outside pressures they face.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because if the teacher creates lessons derived from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), he or she can keep students motivated and engaged. Option A is incorrect because a teacher needs to conduct a professional relationship between the teacher and student; the teacher should serve as a mentor to the students in a classroom setting, not as a personal friend outside school. Option C is incorrect because the teacher is responsible for teaching his or her students the TEKS; therefore, he or she should not let students use class time for other homework, relaxing or sleeping. Option D is incorrect because creating busywork for students is not a good way to keep them engaged in their learning, nor does it help them address the challenges of adulthood.

2. A trade and industrial education (TIE) teacher wants to instill in students the importance of ethical behavior in the workplace. Which of the following activities will best meet the teacher's goal?

  1. Grouping students to review government standards for fair business practices and draw up a set of general principles for ethical workplace conduct
  2. Having students conduct independent research on ethics standards in their parents’ workplaces and present their findings in class
  3. Assigning students homework requiring them to use a textbook to list government standards for fair business practices and outline the major points
  4. Presenting a lesson devoted to discussing high-profile news stories about unethical behavior in the workplace
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because this activity requires students to work collaboratively to develop conclusions and to do so using curriculum-appropriate data. Option B is incorrect because independent research is unstructured and a presentation is not collaborative. Option C is incorrect because listing and outlining fair business practices from a textbook for homework does not involve the production of meaningful student work. Option D is incorrect because the proposed activity is only tangentially related to its goal and does not involve the production of meaningful student work.

3. Which THREE of the following educational approaches are appropriate for the developmental characteristics of middle school students?

  1. Providing opportunities for real-world applications of content
  2. Integrating authentic learning experiences
  3. Using concrete rather than abstract principles
  4. Providing opportunities for exploration and discourse
  5. Employing whole-group direct teaching during most lessons
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because students developing cognitively need to see principles applied in real world settings in order to understand their value and importance. Option B is correct because authentic learning experiences give students an understanding of the knowledge and skill and their context, further cementing the conceptual knowledge they need to develop at this developmental stage. Option D is correct because students need to see applications of knowledge in explorations and struggle with uncertainties through discussion and discourse. Option C is incorrect because these students need to begin developing abstract thinking and an over reliance on concrete knowledge will inhibit that process. Option E is incorrect because students need an opportunity to exchange ideas with their peers through small group work, direct teaching does not help this process.

Competency 002—The trade and industrial education teacher understands student diversity and knows how to plan learning experiences and design assessments that are responsive to differences among students and that promote all students’ learning.

4. Mr. Darlow teaches principles of architecture and construction and has students ranging from ninth to twelfth grade in his class. Mr. Darlow teaches through project-based learning, and his students work in groups to develop proficiency in decision making and problem solving. Mr. Darlow makes sure that he assigns students with a mix of talents, backgrounds, genders, races and ethnicities to the groups.

The primary benefit of Mr. Darlow assigning mixed groups is that it enables him to

  1. incorporate student diversity into classroom activities and promote acceptance and respect in the classroom.
  2. engage his students in their learning by providing an organized and productive learning environment.
  3. use classroom management tools to promote student learning and create a predictable learning environment.
  4. maintain an organized classroom that maximizes instruction time and minimizes procedural delays.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because assigning students to diverse groups allows Mr. Darlow to incorporate diversity into classroom activities and promote acceptance and respect. Option B is incorrect because using mixed groups is not about providing an organized learning environment. Option C is incorrect because mixed groups are not a classroom management tool. Option D is incorrect because mixed groups are not related to maximizing instruction time; rather they are used to promote diversity in the classroom.

5. Julian, a new student, is an English-language learner (ELL). Which of the following is the most appropriate way to ensure that Julian feels comfortable in the classroom?

  1. Assigning Julian a seat in the back of the room so that he does not feel overwhelmed by the other students
  2. Giving Julian a seat that is near the teacher’s desk and next to another student who is fluent in Julian’s native language
  3. Seating Julian in a separate part of the classroom where he can work independently and not feel pressured to socialize with his peers
  4. Asking Julian to stand in front of the classroom and introduce himself so that his peers can get to know him immediately
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because placing Julian in a seat near the teacher and next to another student who speaks both English and Julian’s native language is the best way to ensure that Julian has a full opportunity to master the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum while feeling more at ease in his new classroom setting. Option A is incorrect because seating Julian in the back of the classroom will most likely make him feel like he is not valued. Option C is incorrect because seating Julian in a separate part of the classroom may make him feel excluded. Option D is incorrect because asking a new ELL student to stand in front of the classroom and introduce himself can be overwhelming and make him feel anxious.

6. Ms. Brown teaches a ninth-grade criminal justice class and is planning a lesson about the Bill of Rights. Students are expected to select one of the constitutional amendments and prepare a short presentation about it for the class. Several students in the class have recently moved to the United States and are English-language learners (ELLs). Ms. Brown can be most responsive to her students’ diverse backgrounds and the needs of the ELLs by doing which of the following?

  1. Providing each ELL with a printed instruction sheet listing each project requirement in detail
  2. Providing ELLs with a separate oral explanation of the assignment and allowing them to ask questions about the assignment
  3. Pairing the ELLs with native English-speaking peers to complete the project together
  4. Allowing each ELL to prepare a presentation on an aspect of the criminal justice system in his or her native country
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the Texas Education Code, Chapter 89, Subchapter BB §89.1210, provides that instruction should be modified to ensure that English-language learners have a full opportunity to master the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum, and pairing an English-language learner with a student who speaks English fluently helps to give the ELL that opportunity. Option A is incorrect because providing a printed instruction sheet does not modify the assignment in such a way that would ensure that the ELLs have a full opportunity to master the curriculum. Option B is incorrect because providing an oral explanation of the instructions does not modify the assignment in such a way that would ensure that the ELLs have a full opportunity to master the curriculum. Option D is incorrect because changing the assignment to something other than that required by the curriculum does not allow the ELLs to have a full opportunity to master the curriculum.

7. Jenny is a student in Mr. Thompson’s eleventh-grade advanced building maintenance technology class. She has an acute speech impediment involving stuttering that gets worse when she is nervous or upset. Mr. Thompson is planning a lesson on electrical drawings, electrical symbols, schematics, one-line diagrams and wiring diagrams. In this lesson, each student must describe how to explain these to the class as though they were talking to a customer or client. Jenny is worried about the assignment because she is afraid she will embarrass herself in front of the class.

Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the teacher to take?

  1. Allowing Jenny to opt out of the assignment
  2. Suggesting to Jenny’s parents that they enroll her in speech therapy
  3. Explaining to Jenny that the ability to talk in front of a group of people is a necessary skill in client relations
  4. Reviewing Jenny’s Section 504 plan and complying with the listed accommodations for speaking
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the teacher must comply with the accommodations for a student with a disability that affects a major life activity, as defined in the Section 504 regulations at 34 C.F.R. 104.3(j)(2)(ii). Major life activities include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. Teachers must comply with the accommodations for each individual student. Options A, B and C are incorrect because they are not compliant with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Competency 003—The trade and industrial education teacher understands learning processes and applies procedures for designing effective, coherent and engaging instruction and assessment.

8. Mr. Langston, who teaches a problems-and-solutions, project-based research course to twelfth-grade students, is beginning a unit on researching projects related to students’ career interests. Mr. Langston is launching a learning activity in which his students work in assigned groups to research one possible career path. At the end of each class, with exactly five minutes remaining, Mr. Langston requires his students to review all the work accomplished by their group that day and then list what they plan to accomplish the next day, and perform a self-assessment.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Langston’s requirement at the end of each class?

  1. The practice results in Mr. Langston stopping instructional time early and engaging students in an activity that is not required by the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and it is therefore not the best use of instructional time.
  2. The practice provides a good opportunity for students to gain experience in a supervisory role and to build leadership skills to promote career readiness as they learn to hold other students accountable for group work.
  3. The practice serves as an icebreaker to promote student friendships in a fun and safe learning environment, as long as the students keep all their comments positive.
  4. The practice results in a positive student experience because it provides adequate opportunities for students to participate in reflection, self-assessment and closure.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because it is the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Langston’s daily practice of student self-assessment and group evaluation. Requiring students to review their daily work accomplishments and plan for the next day provides an opportunity for students to participate in reflection, self-assessment and closure, which serves as effective, coherent and engaging assessment and promotes student learning. Option A is incorrect because it is not an accurate statement. Student reflection and self-assessment is an effective practice to promote student learning. Option B is incorrect because it is not the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Langston’s requirement of daily reflection and self-assessment by his students. Students also learn to be personally accountable for group work, not just to hold other students accountable. Option C is incorrect because it is not the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Langston’s requirement of daily reflection and self-assessment by his students. Self-assessment and group evaluation are more than icebreakers.

9. Which TWO of the following instructional activities are especially well suited for visual learners?

  1. Listening to a story being read aloud
  2. Participating in open discussions
  3. Integrating music into a presentation
  4. Observing a demonstration
  5. Watching an instructional video
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because a visual learner will benefit from visually stimulating activities and materials such as demonstrations. Option E is correct because video is another type of visually stimulating material from which a visual learner will benefit. Option A is incorrect because storytelling appeals to auditory learners. Option B is incorrect because participating in discussions benefits verbal learners. Option C is incorrect because integrating music into a presentation will most benefit an auditory learner.

10. Mr. Livingston is teaching a unit on evaluating skills for personal success as part of a seventh-grade exploring-careers class. He asks his students to research effective time-management and goal-setting strategies and prepare a grammatically correct report based on the facts they discover.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding the assignment?

  1. Mr. Livingston knows how to integrate academic subjects into trade and industrial education to make connections across disciplines.
  2. Mr. Livingston should not penalize students for grammatical errors because he is not an English teacher.
  3. Mr. Livingston’s report assignment is a good example of incorporating different student learning approaches into instructional practices.
  4. Mr. Livingston knows how to create a learning environment in which diversity and individual differences are respected.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because it is the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Livingston’s report assignment. By grading grammar, punctuation and spelling, Mr. Livingston shows that he knows the importance of integrating academic subjects such as English into trade and industrial education and making connections across disciplines. Option B is incorrect because it is an incorrect statement altogether. It is important to integrate academic subjects into trade and industrial education and to make connections across disciplines. Option C is incorrect because the assignment is not a true example of incorporating students’ varying approaches to learning into instructional practices. Option D is incorrect because it is not the best answer and because the assignment is not a good example of how to create environments in which diversity and individual differences are respected.

Domain II—Creating a Positive, Productive Learning Environment

Competency 004—The trade and industrial education teacher knows how to establish a safe, positive climate that fosters learning, equity and excellence.

11. Ms. Lipscomb, who teaches a court systems and practices class to twelfth-grade students, frequently uses project-based learning in her class. Her goal is to create a learning environment in which diversity and individual differences are respected, and she wants to ensure that classroom interactions are polite, respectful and professional.

Ms. Lipscomb can best achieve her goal by doing which of the following?

  1. Actively engaging students in their learning, treating them like professional learners and keeping them busy with a constant stream of assignments
  2. Explaining her expectations regarding respect and professionalism in the classroom and having students contribute their own ideas for classroom rules and procedures to promote a positive and safe learning environment
  3. Allowing students to manage their own classroom behavior issues and choose their own rewards and consequences
  4. Providing students with a daily motivational message to encourage self-esteem and leadership skills and to help them succeed in life and as professionals
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because explaining her expectations regarding respect and professionalism in the classroom is the best way for Ms. Lipscomb to achieve the goal of creating a learning environment in which diversity and individual differences are respected. Allowing students to contribute their own ideas for classroom rules and procedures to promote a positive and safe learning environment will ensure that class-room interactions are polite, respectful and professional. Option A is incorrect because it is inconsistent. The answer choice promotes actively engaging students in their learning and treating students as professional learners, but then promotes busywork when it states “keeping them busy with a constant stream of assignments.” This is not an effective way of creating a learning environment in which diversity and individual differences are respected, nor does busywork ensure that classroom interactions are polite, respectful and professional. Option C is incorrect because allowing her students to manage their own classroom behavior issues and choose their own rewards and consequences is not the best way to achieve the goal of a polite, respectful and professional learning environment. Option D is incorrect because providing students with a daily motivational message to encourage self-esteem and leadership skills is not enough to achieve the goal of creating a learning environment in which diversity and individual differences are respected. It also is not the best way to ensure that classroom interactions are polite, respectful and professional.

12. Ms. Erikson teaches a Career Preparation II class to 25 twelfth-grade students. She frequently uses project-based learning in her class, and her students respond well to that teaching style. The students work in groups, and she gives each group a challenge brief that outlines the specific project requirements. Near the conclusion of each project, Ms. Erikson’s class participates in a peer-review activity in which each group presents their project to another group to receive feedback before the final project is presented to the class for a grade. The student groups evaluate each other using the requirements in the challenge brief as a checklist. After verifying whether or not every requirement has been met, each member of the evaluating group must write down two positive comments and one constructive criticism about the project. The groups then discuss their evaluations together.

The primary benefit of Ms. Erikson having students participate in the peer-review activity using set guidelines for student evaluations is that it enables her to

  1. save time by having the student groups grade each others’ projects, allowing her to spend more time working with students who have individual instructional needs.
  2. assess how well students can follow instructions and complete an assignment from start to finish while staying focused on the main objective in the lesson.
  3. assess students’ prior knowledge and experiences in a particular subject matter and provide students with relevant and meaningful learning experiences.
  4. apply strategies for establishing a positive classroom climate that fosters student collaboration and active engagement in learning.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the primary benefit of having students participate in the peer-review activity is fostering collaboration and active engagement in learning. Option A is incorrect because saving time for the teacher is not the primary benefit of peer-review activities. Option B is incorrect because assessing how well students can follow instructions, complete an assignment and stay focused is not the primary benefit of peer review. Option C is incorrect because assessing prior knowledge and experiences is not the primary benefit of peer review.

13. Which of the following activities will best engage students in the introduction of a lesson?

  1. Reading a text silently
  2. Playing a game or participating in a role-play activity
  3. Writing a journal entry
  4. Performing a preassessment of the topic
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because introducing a lesson through a game or role-play activity will create enthusiasm for learning. Option A is incorrect because silent reading of a text is not likely to create enthusiasm for learning. Option C is incorrect because a writing activity alone will not motivate students. Option D is incorrect because a preassessment of a topic does not engage students.

Competency 005—The trade and industrial education teacher implements strategies for creating an organized and productive learning environment and for managing student behavior.

14. Ms. Dickerson teaches an eleventh-grade manufacturing engineering class. She frequently engages the class in project-based learning activities to give students the opportunity to work in groups and develop collaboration skills. Students are assigned to specific groups when working on project-based learning activities, and they are required to take on specific roles within their assigned groups. Each role has specific responsibilities and duties that are required for the completion of the project as a whole.

The primary benefit of this practice is that it enables Ms. Dickerson to

  1. promote students’ ability to assume responsible roles and develop collaborative skills and individual accountability applicable to industrial practice.
  2. analyze ways in which external factors influence the educational environment and the trade and industrial curriculum as applied in a group work setting.
  3. draw upon students’ prior knowledge to create a safe and secure learning environment in which students can feel confident in their learning and the exchange of ideas.
  4. provide enrichment opportunities for advanced students who require additional academic stimulation to achieve success in the classroom and future success in the workplace.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the primary benefit of assigning specific roles within a group is to promote students’ ability to assume responsible roles and develop collaborative skills and individual accountability applicable to industrial practice. Option B is incorrect because the scenario does not involve analyzing ways in which external factors influence the educational environment and the trade and industrial curriculum. Option C is incorrect because the scenario does not involve drawing upon students’ prior knowledge of a particular subject matter. Option D is incorrect because the scenario does not involve providing enrichment opportunities for the advanced students.

15. A high school construction management class is often engaged in project-based group learning activities. Which of the following strategies is the most appropriate for the teacher to use when assigning students to a particular group?

  1. Allowing the students to choose their own groups so they have the opportunity to work with friends and have fun while learning
  2. Selecting the groups based on the students’ achievement level and putting students together who have similar grades to avoid conflict
  3. Selecting the groups based on gender so the students can better focus on the project
  4. Assigning the groups using several criteria to ensure that each group has students with a mixture of skills and each student can find ways to contribute
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because it is best to include students with a mix of skills in each group, so each student can find ways to contribute to the group effort, resulting in a positive, productive learning environment. Option A is incorrect because allowing students to choose their own groups can cause social isolation and student discipline problems. Option B is incorrect because selecting groups based on student achievement level will result in all the low-achieving students being grouped together, which is not an effective way to promote student achievement or create a positive, productive learning environment. Option C is incorrect because separating groups based on gender does not promote student achievement, nor does gender-based grouping create a positive, productive learning environment.

16. Ms. Randall teaches forensic science to eleventh-grade students who engage in daily lab activities. At the beginning of the year, Ms. Randall assigns each student a number, and the student receives a lab coat marked with that number. The lab coats are hanging in a row on wall pegs, which are also marked with the student numbers. Each day, when the students arrive to class, they put on their lab coats and immediately begin the lab assignment listed on the board.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding Ms. Randall’s classroom routines and procedures?

  1. Ms. Randall’s students know what to do when they come to class because she established a clear and specific procedure and reinforced it until it became routine.
  2. Ms. Randall’s students know what to do when they come to class because students who take forensic science are very detail-oriented and will follow classroom routines and procedures because they want to focus on learning.
  3. Ms. Randall’s students follow the classroom routines and procedures because she has a reputation for being a very strict teacher who will write a principal’s office referral for any violation of the rules.
  4. Ms. Randall’s students follow the classroom routines and procedures because she uses technology applications to promote students’ knowledge and skills development.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the teacher has followed the steps to teaching procedures, which are to explain and rehearse the procedure until it becomes routine. Option B is incorrect because classroom routines and procedures are not based on whether students are detail-oriented. Option C is incorrect because a teacher should not use fear to teach or enforce classroom routines and procedures. Option D is incorrect because the scenario does not present evidence that the teacher is using technology applications to promote classroom routines and procedures.

17. Students in a welding class are tasked with daily work in a setting that requires constant supervision. Strict guidelines, determined by industry standards, do not allow for variations of rules and regulations. The teacher notices that students appear to lose focus of safety measures whenever they are confronted with deadlines for projects. Which of the following strategies should the teacher use to best ensure that students adhere to the guidelines?

  1. Applying tactics that will discipline students immediately for any rule violations
  2. Focusing on all rules and regulations on a daily basis
  3. Notifying the administration of every incident
  4. Canceling class because of the inability of students to follow instructions
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the consistent implementation of all rules and regulations will keep students safe, first and foremost. Additionally, over time, the students will become more effective at implementing the rules and regulations in shorter amounts of time. Option A is incorrect because mere discipline may not display a genuine care for the student, and it may not correct the problem. Option C is incorrect because the administration requires teachers to apply appropriate classroom management techniques, not immediate remedies. Option D is incorrect because it is the duty of every teacher to allow effective discipline techniques to take effect rather than canceling the opportunity for students to excel in and out of the classroom.

Domain III—Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment

Competency 006—The trade and industrial education teacher knows how to communicate effectively in various instructional contexts and provide instruction that actively engages students in the learning process.

18. Which of the following is the best example of how better communication can be fostered between an instructor and students in both the classroom and laboratory settings?

  1. The instructor creates a climate of trust and confidence.
  2. The instructor offers as much information as possible in each lesson.
  3. Implicit expectations of the instructor are understood by a majority of students.
  4. If the students are taking too long to respond, the instructor shortens the response time.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because this atmosphere maximizes efficiency of communication by creating a climate of trust and confidence between the student and teacher. Option B is incorrect because the instructor should strive for a balance between too much and too little information. Option C is incorrect because an instructor should be explicit about expectations. Option D is incorrect because an instructor should give students time to process the instructor’s message.

19. Ms. Robbins teaches a ninth-grade principles of architecture and construction class. She is teaching a unit on technology tools specific to architecture and construction to access, manage, integrate and create information, and her students have the assignment to research electronic mail applications. Students will present their findings to the class.

Ms. Robbins wants to use constructive feedback to guide her students’ learning. Which of the following is the most important criteria for a teacher to consider when providing constructive feedback to students?

  1. Constructive feedback must be given when a student is emotionally ready to handle it and should not be given when a student is particularly vulnerable.
  2. Constructive feedback must be relevant, immediate and given in a manner that is respectful and encouraging for students.
  3. Constructive feedback should only be used as a classroom management tool to publicly point out when a student has violated a classroom rule or procedure.
  4. Constructive feedback should only be used with ongoing cognitive and performance-based assessments of student knowledge and skills.
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Option B is correct because constructive feedback must be relevant, immediate, factual, helpful, confidential, respectful, tailored and encouraging. Option A is incorrect because the most important criteria to consider when giving constructive feedback are not whether the student is emotionally ready to handle it. Option C is incorrect because constructive feedback should not be used only as a classroom management tool, and singling out a student or publicly pointing out when a student has violated a classroom rule or procedure is not constructive feedback. Option D is incorrect because cognitive and performance-based assessments of student knowledge and skills are not relevant to the scenario.

20. Mr. Kay, who teaches advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration technology to twelfth-grade students, is beginning a unit on the theory of solid-state electronics. He writes two columns on the board titled “What we know” and “What we want to know.” The students identify facts and issues that they already know regarding the theory of electronics and semiconductors as well as issues they are interested in learning about.

The primary benefit of the activity is that it will enable Mr. Kay to

  1. encourage his students to decide what the curriculum should incorporate.
  2. present content to his students in ways that are relevant and meaningful.
  3. create an environment of respect and professionalism during class discussions.
  4. minimize classroom management problems by engaging the students.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because by determining what his students already know about a particular subject, Mr. Kay can present content to students in ways that are relevant. Option A is incorrect because the primary benefit of this activity is not for the teacher to encourage students to make decisions about the curriculum. Option C is incorrect because the primary benefit of this activity is not to create an environment of respect and professionalism. Option D is incorrect because the activity does not directly relate to classroom management.

Competency 007—The trade and industrial education teacher understands workbased learning approaches and incorporates relevant experiences into the trade and industrial curriculum (TEKS)

21. A career and technical education (CTE) teacher wants to connect classroom learning to work-based learning experiences for students. Which of the following will best accomplish that goal?

  1. Requiring students to participate in an internship at a local business
  2. Inviting a local business owner to speak to the students
  3. Having the students develop a résumé
  4. Facilitating a class discussion based on student work experiences
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because an internship will be directly related to what is taught in the classroom. Option B is incorrect because students should gain personal work experience, not just hear about it secondhand. Options C and D are incorrect because a résumé and discussion of student work experiences will not best accomplish the goal.

22. Students in a career preparations class are eager to learn about job opportunities. A lack of funding prohibits students from traveling to and from an internship opportunity offered by a local judge using school-based modes of transportation. Upon verifying the validity of the training opportunity for the students, the teacher’s best course of action is to

  1. cancel the request made by the judge as it does not follow the educational guidelines of the school district.
  2. allow students to decide whether the opportunity meets or exceeds their needs and let them attend at will.
  3. disregard the option as the request is not necessary to successfully complete the course.
  4. collaborate with school administrators to find ways of making the opportunity available to all students.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the teacher must provide alternate and effective methods to supplement student learning and prepare students for career opportunities. By working with school administrators, the teacher will be making an opportunity accessible to all students. Option A is incorrect because TEKS guidelines allow for the implementation of different tactics to provide supplemental instruction for students. Option B is incorrect because all students should have equal opportunity to attend supplemental activities. Option C is incorrect because it disregards the educational opportunities that all students should have access to.

23. Which of the following should the teacher primarily focus on when evaluating a work-based learning experience?

  1. Feedback from the mentor as well as the completion of student activities in a training plan
  2. A participant’s maturity, skills, conduct, management of student wages, and driving record
  3. Completion of an interview as well as continued hiring due to a need within the company
  4. Adherence to workplace policies along with pursuit of certifications and contributions to safety
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because reviewing feedback from the mentor as well as the completion of student activities in a training plan are areas that a teacher should focus on when evaluating student progress in a work-based learning experience. Option B is incorrect because some of these aspects of student success in a work-based learning program are requirements for entry into the program, such as maturity and a good driving record, rather than something that students make progress in over time. Option C is incorrect because completion of an interview is likely a requirement for placement into a work-based learning experience, and continued hiring after the school-sponsored work-based learning experience is not a requirement for students to receive a favorable evaluation from a teacher (opportunities with a company beyond the school work-based learning experience may or may not be available, depending on many factors beyond the students’ control in addition to student performance). Option D is incorrect because following workplace policies is something that students are required to do, and not necessarily something that progress would be tracked in over time. Certifications may or may not be available to the student in their field area. Furthermore, contributions to safety could be part of an overall evaluation of the student, but it alone is not the only factor, and students are required to practice safety at all job sites.

Competency 008—The trade and industrial education teacher understands and integrates relevant technology in delivering the trade and industrial curriculum (TEKS).

24. For an end-of-semester assignment, students in a career and technology course are required to give a PowerPoint presentation. Many students understand how to prepare such a presentation, but others lack the required knowledge of computer applications.

Which of the following is the most appropriate way for the teacher to provide assistance?

  1. Offering an alternate method of presenting the project, such as on poster board or as an essay or research paper
  2. Analyzing student need and developing instruction that enhances understanding of the required computer software
  3. Allowing the students to visit the library or a computer application course on their own time to enhance their learning
  4. Preparing slide templates for the students and allowing them to fill in the needed information on their own
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because a teacher must create an effective teaching and learning environment and use methods that will allow students to participate equally. Option A is incorrect because the curriculum calls for the understanding of technology used in trade and industry. Option C is incorrect because students should learn in their own classroom instead of having to rely on others to educate them. In addition, it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that students’ learning of computer applications is enhanced, and this responsibility should not be passed on to the students alone. Option D is incorrect because it does not allow the students to grow to meet their own potential.

25. In Mr. Lucas’ advanced piping and plumbing technology class, eleventh- and twelfth-grade students learn proper procedures for the safe use, operation and maintenance of motorized equipment such as electrical generators. Observing students while they perform the maintenance procedures allows Mr. Lucas to track their progress and monitor their understanding and mastery of the necessary skills.

The primary benefit of this practice is that it enables Mr. Lucas to

  1. use technology to promote students’ knowledge and skills development and to assess student learning.
  2. take a break from instruction to do other tasks.
  3. offer an instructional tool the students like, which will increase the number of students in his classes.
  4. use the electrical generators as a student privilege that can be taken away, thereby improving overall student behavior in class.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the primary benefit of using the technology is that it promotes student knowledge and skills development. Also the teacher can observe the students’ interacting with the technology to assess student learning. Option B is incorrect because the primary benefit of using the equipment and procedures is not to give the teacher a break from instruction Option C is incorrect because the primary benefit of using technology is not that it increases the teacher’s job security. Option D is incorrect because the primary benefit of using the equipment is not to use it as a classroom management tool.

26. A teacher wants to integrate technology in the classroom to enhance instruction as well as meet the requirements of the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS). Which of the following is of highest priority in preparation for a research project that uses the Internet?

  1. Creativity of the presentation
  2. Identification of students’ learning levels
  3. Site credibility
  4. Work-based learning
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because information needs to be from a valid source when using technology. Option A is incorrect because while creativity in the lesson will hold students’ attention, it is not the priority. Option B is incorrect because the students’ learning level will be addressed upon the presentation of the lesson. Option D is incorrect because it is not of the highest priority in preparation for a lesson that will use the Internet.

Competency 009—The trade and industrial education teacher monitors student performance and achievement and provides students with timely, high-quality feedback and responsive instruction to promote learning for all students.

27. Mr. Mazzacano is teaching a unit on juvenile law and assigns a learning activity in which students work in groups to prepare projects about juvenile law. Before the final presentations, the groups engage in a peer-review activity in which they present their projects to another group and receive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Mazzacano’s peer-review activity?

  1. Mr. Mazzacano should not require his students to engage in the peer-review activity.
  2. Mr. Mazzacano is relying on Bloom’s taxonomy to aid learning.
  3. Mr. Mazzacano recognizes the benefits of student self-assessment.
  4. Mr. Mazzacano is providing resources for his students to use when exploring future career goals.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the purpose of peer review is to promote students’ ability to use feedback to guide and enhance student learning; therefore, this is the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Mazzacano’s peer-review activity. Option A is incorrect because it is a false statement; peer review does not compromise the integrity of students’ work. Option B is incorrect because it is unrelated to the topic addressed in this question. Option D is incorrect because it is not related to the topic addressed in this question and is not the most accurate statement regarding Mr. Mazzacano’s peer-review activity.

28. Which TWO of the following strategies are most effective for providing instructional feedback to a student?

  1. Supplying immediate oral responses to student misinterpretations
  2. Reviewing a prior assignment with the student at the conclusion of a unit of study
  3. Targeting an equal number of strengths and weaknesses in the student’s work
  4. Disregarding errors and misconceptions until the student has been retaught the material
  5. Giving general comments about the student’s quality of work when grading an assignment
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because instructional feedback should be given as soon as possible. Option C is correct because feedback should focus on both positive aspects and areas for growth. It is best if commentary addresses at least as many student strengths as areas for growth. Option B is incorrect because waiting until the end of the unit to provide feedback is an ineffective practice. Option D is incorrect because errors and misconceptions should be addressed as soon as possible. Option E is incorrect because feedback should be specific, not general.

29. Which of the following is the primary benefit of using performance-based assessments?

  1. They cover more content than multiple-choice tests.
  2. They require less time to administer and score.
  3. They provide low-cost testing when administered to a large population of students.
  4. They provide teachers with a clear picture of what students have or have not learned.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because performance-based assessments provide teachers with meaningful information about what students have or have not learned. Option A is incorrect because performance-based assessments typically cover less content than multiple-choice tests. Option B is incorrect because performance-based assessments require more time to administer and score than multiple-choice testing. Option C is incorrect because performance-based assessments are expensive to implement and score with a large population of students.

Competency 010—The trade and industrial education teacher understands and fosters the development of entrepreneurial, employability and safety skills through delivery of the trade and industrial curriculum (TEKS).

30. On a high school campus, low test scores have resulted in the revamping of several trade and industry classes. Several teachers have been reassigned, while others have been placed in temporary or probationary positions. Most teachers are hesitant to network with each other to resolve issues.

Which of the following should a first-year teacher do to best serve the campus community?

  1. Identify and help solve problems that negatively affect students, staff and faculty
  2. Follow the previously established teaching methods and strategies without trying to change the learning climate
  3. Report all irregularities to district personnel and allow them to take the appropriate action
  4. Request a transfer because of the teachers’ inability to cope with the changes and the administrators’ inability to take corrective action
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the role of faculty is to build a culture of service centered on student needs. Option B is incorrect because years of service do not affect the need to change the climate for the sake of students, faculty and staff. A new teacher might bring insight. Option C is incorrect because although some issues may require reports to district officials, campus issues may require positive work by those involved and working within the campus. Option D is incorrect because requesting a transfer is not the best way to serve the campus community.

31. Which of the following is an educational preparation program that helps teachers implement interactive safety instruction?

  1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  2. CareerSafe Professional Development Program (CPDP)
  3. Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  4. Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the CareerSafe Professional Development Program (CPDP) provides detailed information for CTE teachers to use to implement interactive safety instruction. Option A is incorrect because the agency’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. Option C is incorrect because an Individualized Education Program is a plan for the education of a student with special needs. Option D is incorrect because the DSHS monitors overall health situations, not classroom instruction.

32. A new construction class is added to the curriculum at a local high school, but not all equipment is available during the first part of the school year. A trade and industry teacher is complying with all TEKS requirements for the curriculum. One of the units calls for the building and maintenance of two-story buildings, and the students in the construction class are tasked with the project. The project is nearing completion, and a student standing on a desk to paint the upper portion of a wall falls, requiring a visit from the nurse. The teacher must report the incident and the reason for the inappropriate use of inadequate equipment.

In assessing the situation, it is most important for the teacher to recognize that

  1. the teacher is not at fault for the student’s misuse of equipment.
  2. the student must take responsibility for his or her actions.
  3. appropriate OSHA regulations were not met.
  4. the incident was unavoidable.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the teacher must follow OSHA regulations. All safety measures must be adhered to, even if equipment is not available. Option A is incorrect because regardless of whether the appropriate equipment is available, no project should be finalized using shortcuts. Option B is incorrect because the teacher is ultimately responsible for student performance. Option D is incorrect because for every cause there is a consequence. In this scenario, a consequence is inevitable.

Domain IV—Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities

Competency 011—The trade and industrial education teacher understands the role of internal and external partnerships and develops and maintains collaborative relationships with educational partners to deliver the trade and industrial curriculum (TEKS).

33. A trade and industry high school is seeking to raise the standards on their college preparatory program. The school has no current provisions for implementing the initiative other than to include rigorous, college-level honors courses. A teacher notices that students are struggling with the new curriculum. Which of the following approaches will most likely improve students’ success with the new curriculum?

  1. Allowing students to make up work based on their ability to understand the errors they made during the initial implementation of the new program
  2. Providing work that is less rigorous until students are able to sustain a full academic schedule for the newly implemented program
  3. Lowering student expectations with the understanding that in the future they will be able to comprehend the rigor of the coursework
  4. Promoting collaborative teams within the classroom as well as with members of the community who may enhance the quality of the curriculum
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because collaborative teams build knowledge and promote comprehension of material. This effort establishes real-life rigor and an introduction to college-level curriculum. Option A is incorrect because merely making up work will not effectively prepare students for college-level coursework. Option B is incorrect because fewer rigors will not develop students into college-ready students. Option C is incorrect because lowering expectations may lead to student failure in their future endeavors as college-bound students.

34. A small group of technical and industrial education (TIE) teachers meets regularly to discuss curriculum alignment and to collaborate on project-based learning topics and activities within the law, public safety, corrections and security cluster. The teachers also meet with members of the community who serve on a committee that advises the teachers and their students on industry standards and job opportunities.

The primary benefit of this practice is that it will enable the teachers to

  1. network within the community to build personal contacts to use as references during job interviews and increase their personal earning capacity.
  2. allow advisory committee members to instruct the students on issues related to legal and protective services while the teacher is able to take a sabbatical.
  3. develop and establish partnerships with internal and external entities and create and maintain collaborative relationships with educational partners to deliver the trade and industrial curriculum.
  4. present content to students in ways that are relevant and meaningful to students’ prior knowledge and experience as it relates to the law, public safety, corrections and security cluster.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because when the teachers meet regularly as a team and when they meet with their advisory committee, they are developing and establishing partnerships with internal and external entities and creating and maintaining collaborative relationships with educational partners to deliver the trade and industrial curriculum. This is the best answer. Option A is incorrect because the purpose of teachers meeting with an advisory committee is not to pursue a career outside teaching or to build personal contacts to use as references during outside job interviews. Option B is incorrect because the purpose of meeting with the advisory committee is not to allow the teachers to take a break from teaching and focus on personal business. Option D is incorrect because students’ prior knowledge and experience is not the issue in this question.

35. Which of the following is a primary purpose of a career and technical education advisory committee?

  1. To select curriculum based on industry standards
  2. To adopt curriculum for classroom use
  3. To review curriculum for technical accuracy
  4. To develop curriculum to meet local industry needs
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because an advisory committee helps review curriculum for accuracy and may make suggestions about additional resources needed for instruction. Option A is incorrect because the advisory committee does not select curriculums. Option B is incorrect because the advisory committee has no power to adopt curriculum materials. Option D is incorrect because the advisory committee is not expected to develop new curriculums.

Competency 012—The trade and industrial education teacher understands and fosters the development of leadership skills through delivery of the trade and industrial curriculum (TEKS) and implementation of the trade and industrial education state-approved student organizations.

36. The cocurricular nature of career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) allows the integration of career education and leadership development skills. There are eight CTSOs that meet program specifications. Which of the following CTSOs are the most appropriate ones for business education programs to participate in? Select start underline all end underline that apply.

  1. HOSA
  2. FCCLA
  3. SkillsUSA
  4. BPA
  5. FFA
  6. FBLA
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because BPA activities are specifically for business-occupation students. Option F is correct because the activities of FBLA are also specifically for business occupation students. Option A is incorrect because HOSA is for health-career programs. Option B is incorrect because FCCLA is for the family consumer science programs. Option C is incorrect because even though SkillsUSA includes activities for business occupations, it is not specifically for business programs. Option E is incorrect because FFA is for those students studying agriculture.

37. Ms. Leoni hosts a chapter of the student organization SkillsUSA Law Enforcement. Participating students hold regular meetings in which they learn proper parliamentary procedure, have officer elections, participate in community service activities and compete in various law enforcement competitions on district, regional, state and national levels.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding the primary purpose for hosting the student organization?

  1. The student organization gives students an opportunity to compete and win awards and trophies that can be displayed in the school’s trophy case and bring recognition to Ms. Leoni’s hard work and dedication to her students.
  2. The student organization gives students opportunities to develop leadership skills as well as knowledge of industry standards and job-related technical skills the students will use after high school as they pursue careers.
  3. The student organization gives students the ability to understand the value of human diversity in relation to employment and participate in activities that give them hands-on experience working together to achieve a common goal.
  4. The student organization gives students a better opportunity for employment because they can list it on their résumé.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the purpose of the student organization is to provide students with opportunities to develop leadership skills as well as knowledge of industry standards and job-related technical skills the students will use after high school as they pursue careers. Option A is incorrect because the purpose of the student organization is not to win student competitions to bring recognition to the teacher’s hard work and dedication. Option C is incorrect because diversity is not the issue in this question, and this is not the best answer choice. Option D is incorrect because the purpose of the student organization is not simply to enhance student résumés.

Competency 013—The trade and industrial education teacher understands professional roles and responsibilities and adheres to legal and ethical requirements of the profession.

38. A trade and industrial education (TIE) class includes Allison, a regular, general education student who has been highly disruptive over a prolonged period. The teacher, Mr. Burnett, has tried various disciplinary measures but none have been effective. Mr. Burnett now believes that Allison should be removed from the classroom.

In this situation, Mr. Burnett’s first step should be to do which of the following?

  1. Consult other teachers at the school to determine the most appropriate class to transfer Allison to
  2. Share records and documentation of Allison’s behavior with the school principal
  3. Formally request that Allison be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP)
  4. Meet with Allison’s parents to obtain their consent for removing her from the classroom
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the consent of the school principal is required to remove a student from class. Providing documentation of disruptive behavior to the principal can support the teacher’s request for removal and any subsequent meetings about the student’s behavior with the principal and parents. Option A is incorrect because the teacher does not have the authority to transfer the student without the principal’s consent. Option C is incorrect because DAEPs are generally for students who engage in more serious actions, such as bullying or carrying weapons to school. Option D is incorrect because the consent of the principal, not the parents, is required to remove the student.

39. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act primarily differs from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in which of the following ways?

  1. Section 504 requires a written Individualized Education Program.
  2. Section 504 protects students after leaving the public school system.
  3. IDEA protects students after leaving the public school system.
  4. IDEA requires colleges and workplaces to make appropriate accommodations.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides protection to students in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) after leaving the public school system. Option A is incorrect because Section 504 does not require the school to provide a written IEP. Option C is incorrect because IDEA protections end when the student leaves the public school system or turns 22. Option D is incorrect because IDEA protects students through high school graduation or the age of 21. It does not require colleges or workplaces to make appropriate accommodations based on an individual’s learning disability.

40. A student in a trade and industrial education (TIE) program comes to class one day with noticeable bruises on her arms. When the teacher asks the student about the bruises, the student replies that she had a disagreement with her parents. The teacher should act by

  1. contacting a law enforcement agency to report suspected child abuse.
  2. asking the school counselor to meet with the student and her parents.
  3. observing the student in the coming weeks for further signs of abuse.
  4. arranging for the school nurse to examine and document the bruises.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because education professionals are required by Texas law to report suspected child abuse within 48 hours of initially noticing the signs of abuse. Option B is incorrect because involving the parents in the matter directly is not an appropriate way to handle suspected abuse. Option C is incorrect because teachers should not delay reporting legitimate suspicions about suspected abuse. Option D is incorrect because official documentation of signs of child abuse should be performed by law enforcement officials, not school personnel.

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