Deck 1: Organizational and Critical Theory

Question 1

In a few sentences, defend the textbook authors' use of the metaphors of "coaching" as a leadership concept and a "game plan" for developing your personal theory of practice.

Answer 1

A coach observes, assesses weaknesses, and then offers guidance for improvement. Just as a coach develops a "game plan" before entering into competition, a leader should develop a "game plan" about how to interact with people and engage them in the vision of the school. The game plan is a theory of practice about how to lead the school to achieve the vision.

Question 2

Provide an application of how an educational leader can use the expression B = fp · e). In your response, describe over which part of this expression the leader has most control, and give one a specific application.

Answer 2

The leader can control the "e" or the environment. In addition, a response that includes a description of a leader's control over the culture and climate of an organization is acceptable, or an example of what a leader might do to affect either culture or climate.)

Question 3

Which of the following is a term or terms) used to describe a set of beliefs and values that are generally accepted?

A)paradigm
B)scientific revolution
C)behaviorism
D)organizational behavior
E)neo-scientific

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The two major perspectives of educational organizations are bureaucratic views and human resources development views. Select the correct answer to differentiate which of the following methods of controlling behavior in an organization would be characteristic of human resources development views.

A)A reading coach is hired to supervise and help teachers since the state and district have determined that reading is a problem in the schools
B)When new teachers arrive there is an induction program to help them understand the values and goals of the school
C)New teachers are given a teacher handbook that includes procedures and schedules to help them understand expectations
D)Grade level teams are assigned the task of developing plans to deal with the goal of improving math achievement test scores
E)Both b and d.

Question 5

Choose the best example of an educational application based on social psychology principles.

A)Providing students with options to demonstrate their learning such as traditional paper and pencil tests, and drawing or other artistic expressions.
B)Giving students stars on a chart for appropriate behavior.
C)Providing students with collaborative learning opportunities.
D)Both b and c above.

Question 6

Structuralism as used in this book is most closely associated with

A)underlying patterns of logic, system, and order.
B)quantitative empirical research.
C)human relations theory.
D)using qualitative research methods to describe the culture of organizations.
E)Both a and b

Question 7

Choose the best example of an educational application based on behavioral psychology behaviorism) principles.

A)Providing students with options to demonstrate their learning such as traditional paper and pencil tests, and drawing or other artistic expressions.
B)Giving students stars on a chart for appropriate behavior.
C)Providing students with collaborative learning opportunities.
D)Both a and c above.

Question 8

From the examples below, select the one that best illustrates Chris Argyris' idea of Pattern A, soft behavior.

A)A supervisor meets with grade level teachers to describe the new reading series that has been adopted and to ask for additional ideas on implementation
B)The math teachers are given the math achievement test data from last year and they are asked to devise methods to improve the scores
C)The principal forms a faculty advisory committee to develop a school-wide discipline plan based on current research
D)The principal meets with the food service staff to ask them to come up with better ways to more quickly move the students through the lines
E)Both a and d

Question 9

The person closely associated with recognizing that science is characterized by tranquil periods or "normal science" followed by periods of turmoil which sometimes becomes a scientific revolution is
A
B)F.Skinner.
B)Benjamin Bloom.
C)Thomas S.Kuhn.
D)Kurt Lewin.
E)John Dewey.

Question 10

Compare the following theorists' ideas:
a.Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Y.
b.Chris Argyris' Pattern A soft and hard.
c.Rensis Likert's Four Management Systems.In your response, define your terms and indicate how the concepts in each of the theorists' ideas are similar.Include at least one example of leader behavior that you analyze in terms of the three theorists' ideas.

Question 11

List one of the criticisms from state and professional education associations of NCLB.

Question 12

Which of the following would characterize organizations that emphasize Human Resources Development Theory?

A)Having a detailed employee handbook that guides expected behavior
B)Closely supervising to insure compliance with rules
C)Bringing individuals together to problem solve
D)Employee evaluation based on continuous administrative observation
E)Both a and c

Question 13

How can a school leader apply one or more of the results of the Tennessee STAR study? Give one specific application.

Question 14

Define the expression B = fp · e).

Question 15

Describe the Japanese principle of kaizen.

Question 16

Structuralism became unpopular in the field of education

A)because structuralism was not always sufficiently taught well enough in colleges of education.
B)because newer methods of inquiry were too prescribed to accurately describe organizational behavior.
C)because structuralism provided inaccurate measures of student achievement and learning.
D)because of a disjunction between publicly espoused values and what we do in schools.
E)both a and d are true.

Question 17

Identify one of the concepts that makes a research study achieve "gold standard" quality.

Question 18

One of the main reasons the Tennessee Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio STAR) research meets the "gold standard" for education research is because

A)it used a large, diverse sample that was tracked longitudinally.
B)it randomly assigned students to classes.
C)it found that some variables were not significant.
D)both a and b are correct.

Question 19

Which of the following mechanisms are included in bureaucratic theory?

A)Firm hierarchical control of authority
B)Clear plans and schedules
C)Allowing subordinates the freedom to make decisions
D)Flexible standards to allow for creative problem solving
E)Both a and b above

Question 20

The person credited with providing us with the theory behind the expression B = fp · e) is
A
B)F.Skinner.
B)Benjamin Bloom.
C)Thomas S.Kuhn.
D)Kurt Lewin.

Question 21

Describe the concepts of critical theory CT) and critical race theory CRT). In your response illustrate how a leader would implement at least three basic tenants of CRT in working with the staff.

Question 22

Analyze the movement and thinking that promoted the No Child Left Behind NCLB) reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In your analysis, include each of the following:
a.Give at least two of the main goals of NCLB.
b.Is NCLB a paradigm shift or not?