Chapter 1 Study Questions

Mr. Davis is hoping to learn why some of his sixth-grade students are performing poorly during the third quarter. He finds that the more students are absent, the lower his or her grades are likely to be. His results reflect:

A negative correlation

Mrs. Hart is a tenth-grade teacher and she is doing research in her own classroom. This type of descriptive research is called:

Action research

According to our text, which of the following is the most frequently used research method in educational psychology?

Correlational Studies

According to our text, to become an intentional teacher you must first:

Become a certified teacher

Teacher efficacy is the degree to which teachers do what?

Believe their own efforts determine their students' success

How do intentional teachers achieve a sense of efficacy?

By continually assessing their instruction results and trying new strategies if initial instruction doesn't work (Intentional teachers achieve a sense of efficacy by constantly assessing the results of their instruction, constantly trying new strategies if initial instruction didn't work, and constantly seeing new ideas from colleagues, books, magazines, workshops, and other sources to enrich and solidify their teaching skills)

Assessments intended to indicate how students are moving toward success in college and careers are based on:

College- and Career- Ready Standards

For many years, each state in the United States has had its own standards, which are expectations of what each child should know and be able to do in a given subject matter at a given age. These standards are referred to as:

Common Core State Standards (Common Core State Standards provide guidelines for what each child should know and be able to do in a given subject matter at a given age)

Maura learns that research on beginning reading dramatically transformed curriculum, instruction and professional development for reading instruction. Maura realizes this type of impact of educational research upon teachers' practices is:

Direct

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the role of educational psychology in teacher preparation?

Educational psychology provides teachers with research-based principles to guide their teaching (Educational psychology is the study of learners, learning, and teaching. Educational psychology doesn't directly cannot tell teachers what to do, but educational psychologists carry out research on the nature of students, principles of learning, and methods of teaching to give educators the information they need to think critically about their work)

Effective teaching occurs best when a teacher is prepared with:

Knowledge of subject matter and the skills to share that knowledge (Effective teachers not only know their subjects, but they can also communicate their knowledge to students.)

Research-based professional development opportunities offer teachers:

Methods known to make a difference in children

Carson, who is struggling in math, has missed nine days of school this semester. The relation between his math skill and his absences show which type of correlation?

Negative correlation

One way toward becoming an intentional teacher in your beginning years is to:

Seek a mentor who is an intentional teacher to guide you and share ideas with you

Research finds that one of the most powerful predictors of a teacher's impact on students is:

The teacher's belief that what he or she does makes a difference

The aim of research in educational psychology is:

To test the theories that guide the actions of those involved in education

Variables for which there is no relationship between levels of one compared to another are referred to as:

Uncorrelated

In addition to being able to carry out the many tasks of teaching, these traits are essential in good teachers:

Warmth, enthusiasm, and caring

Intentional teachers are constantly thinking about:

What goals they and their students are trying to accomplish (Intentional teachers are those who are constantly thinking about the outcomes they want for their students and about how each decision they make moves children toward those outcomes. Intentional teachers now that maximum learning does not happen by chance)

According to our text, pedagogy is the link between which of the following?

What the teacher desires students to learn and students' actual learning (The link between what the teacher wants students to learn and students' actual learning is called instruction, or pedagogy. Effective instruction is not a simple matter of one person more knowledge transmitting that knowledge to another)

Mr. Jenkins is an avid reader of educational research. Mr. Jenkins is familiar with research in mathematics instruction which asserts a rapid pace of instruction increases achievement. Yet Mr. Jenkins students are in need of additional reinforcement of some key skills so he slows his instruction pace accordingly. Mr. Jenkins is demonstrating his ability to:

apply a hefty dose of common sense and a clear view of what needs to be taught to research findings.

Many researchers and educators have bemoaned the limited impact of research in educational psychology on teachers' practices. Yet even if teachers are not aware of it, research in education does have a profound impact that is:

indirect

Ms. O'Malley has a student named Tara in her second hour class. A majority of the time Tara is quiet and withdrawn. When reviewing Tara's permanent record, Ms. O'Malley is surprised to see a long history of academic success. Ms. O'Malley asks herself a number of questions about this situation, considers some possible outcomes, and plans several strategies to attempt to draw Tara into classroom activities. Ms. O'Malley is demonstrating her ability to:

make decisions that influence the course of her work

Taneesha is excited about teaching and eager to find more ideas that will help her during her first year. Taneesha is disappointed to find her colleagues are worn out from years in the classroom and outside responsibilities. No one seems to have time for her questions. What should Taneesha do?

seek virtual colleagues and professional development on the Web (A great feature of technology is the ability to find mentors who are willing to be virtual colleagues as well as a multitude of professional development available on the internet)

Thomas is excited about having been given a budget for professional development. He wants to seek out the most effective teacher development opportunities so he asks his department chair for suggestions. Thomas's department chair is happy to help and suggests that Thomas seeks out professional development with:

some sort of coaching or follow-up support