Using Technology for NJ Excel

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These questions are examples of what you may see on the SLLA test.

An elementary school principal is working with the school community to implement a plan to integrate technology into the school’s curriculum. The plan, which the principal developed with a technology committee composed of school staff and other stakeholders, ensures that all teachers and students have consistent, convenient access to technologies for enriching the campus curriculum. All teachers have received initial training in appropriate uses of these technologies. The teachers also have access to technical support services and relevant instructional resources, including descriptions of technology-based instructional activities that are aligned with the campus curriculum. Many teachers have already begun to integrate the technologies into classroom instruction. The principal observes that some teachers are skeptical about the technology initiative and are reluctant to implement technology-based instruction in their classrooms.

1. Which of the following responses from the principal would most likely be effective in engaging these teachers in the technology initiative?

Encouraging the reluctant teachers to participate in additional staf development sessions to strengthen their technology skills.

Meeting with the reluctant teachers to reiterate the benefits of integrating technology into the campus curriculum.

Arranging for teachers who are successfully using the new technologies to serve as models and mentors for the reluctant teachers.

Offering to support the reluctant teachers by personally observing their use of the new technologies and providing constructive feedback

Clear selection

Several members of the technology committee express concern about the future of the technology plan, pointing out that the school’s new technologies could become outmoded or obsolete within a few years.

2. Which of the following responses from the principal would best address the committee’s concern?

Directing the school’s technical support staff to prepare a comprehensive analysis of trends in instructional technology.

Recommending that the committee periodically reevaluate the plan and revise it as needed to take advantage of new innovations and opportunities.

Expressing confidence that the committee has selected appropriate, durable technologies that will serve the school adequately for many years.

Suggesting that the committee develop and implement a new technology plan every two or three years if sufficient funds are available.

Clear selection

A group of parents representing gifted students writes a letter to the principal complaining that the school's computer lab is used primarily for remediating students in reading and math. The letter indicates that the gifted children are not offered the same opportunities to utilize the computer lab as those students receiving remediation.

3. After investigating the issue, the principal agrees that the schedule should be revised. Her decision is most likely based on

a willingness to change her own position on an issue

the need to provide equal access to technology resources

the importance of involving families in decisions about their children

the value of building consensus on effective instructional practices

Clear selection

4. A parent survey reveals that many students in the district come from homes without computers or Internet access. Which of the following is the most effective action for the school leadership to take to increase computer and Internet access for students?

Contacting a charitable organization to inquire about services for families without access to technology

Requesting that the public library reserve a number of computers to be used by students who do not have computer access at home

Forming a committee of parents to discuss ways in which computers can be provided to families

Extending the hours the school's computer labs are open to students

Clear selection

Questions 5-9 are based on the following scenario

Dr. Khan is the director of curriculum and instruction in a district containing several internationally known technology companies. Consequently, the science department, which is known for disparate teaching styles and inconsistent results, has come under particular scrutiny by parents and community members. Dr. Khan would like to begin addressing the situation by standardizing the science curriculum.

5. Dr. Khan's most effective initial effort toward meeting her goal of standardizing the science curriculum is to

mandate a common teaching methodology for the entire department

identify teachers with the weakest student performance for targeted supervision

engage science teachers in a dialogue about curricular goals and objectives

select a common textbook publisher for instructional materials for all courses in the department

Clear selection

6. Standardization of the science curriculum will most likely require the redesign of individual courses of study. Which of the following is most vital for Dr. Khan to emphasize and implement during the redesign process?

Inclusion of a broad variety of elective courses

Honoring the expectations of the community

Adding study materials, especially those using technology

Continuous participation by teachers

Clear selection

7. Dr. Khan is realistically anticipating that some science teachers will be resistant to changes in their courses of study. Dr. Khan will be most successful in overcoming this resistance if she is able to demonstrate how the implementation of new curriculum will meet the needs of the students as well as the goals of

the school as a whole

the local community

the teachers

society

Clear selection

8. At the conclusion of the curriculum standardization process, Dr. Khan plans to evaluate the overall success of the program. Which of the following methods would be the most effective way to accomplish this goal?

Use student achievement data as the criteria for determining the effectiveness of the new curriculum

Hire a public relations firm to assess the community's attitudes about the new curriculum

Match components of the new curriculum against state and national standards

Conduct a survey of students' and teachers' attitudes toward the new curriculum

Clear selection

9. Dr. Khan is planning to post on the district Web site to apprise parents and community members about the progress of the science department standardization. In this and all written communication, Dr. Khan should primarily pay attention to making sure the message is

worded in a businesslike manner

focused on a single idea

spelled out in detail

geared to the intended audience

Clear selection

Questions 10-12 are based on the following scenario.

An elementary school principal has been approached by a small group of staff members with a request to update and expand the school's Web site. Their specific request is to create Web pages for each teacher, where the teachers can display students' work, post information about assignments for students and parents, and provide links to helpful Web sites.

10. In preparing a response to the teachers' description of the purpose and uses of the teacher Web sites, the principal would find it most helpful to review the district's acceptable-use policy because it

outlines ethical and legal guidelines for utilizing the district's technology equipment and networks

protects students' rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media

describes the obligations and responsibilities of teachers with respect to establishing and maintaining contact with students' parents

describes the specific, protected rights of students with respect to access to and confidentiality of their educational information

Clear selection

11. A few days after the first group of teachers approaches the principal, a second group of teachers expresses that they neither wish to nor feel obligated to host a Web page. They have asked to meet with the principal to discuss their concerns. All of the following actions by the principal would be constructive in addressing the teachers' concerns EXCEPT

pointing out ways the teachers will benefit from hosting a Web page

proposing a deadline by which all teachers should have a basic Web page posted on the site

providing access to support personnel to help teachers create and maintain a Web page

including representatives from the group when planning guidelines on how to develop a Web page

Clear selection

12. The primary educational benefit of having administrators, teachers, and other school personnel model the use of current technologies through practices such as creating and hosting their own Web page is that

educators should display an interest in continuing to learn by challenging themselves to get out of their comfort zones

technology can be helpful in bridging cultural gaps by facilitating the exchange of views and ideas

technology offers the ability to track progress and report assessment results individually, by grade level, by school, or across the district

students can have access to information they need to complete assignments 24 hours a day

Clear selection

Sample Constructed Response 1

The scenario and sample question that follows illustrates the kind of question in the test. It is not, however, representative of the entire scope of the test in either content or difficulty.

A new principal in a suburban school district with six elementary schools has been asked to support the continuing implementation of a non traditional math program at her school. The program was implemented district-wide three years ago amidst considerable concern from parents and staff. Frequent evaluation of the program has shown that students' conceptual understanding is exceptional, but their computation performance varies from year to year and consistently falls below their conceptual understanding. While significant concerns still linger among parents and staff, parent satisfaction has increased by 20 percent in the last year and dissatisfaction has declined by one-third. The site evaluation team has established several recommendations, including improving communication with parents and providing professional development for teachers.

SR1. Identify and describe at least three steps the principal can take to gain further support for the program and decrease the dissatisfaction level.

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