Question 1

What is an interactive whiteboard?

Accepted Answer

A)   A whiteboard that both the teacher and the students can use
B)   An electronic white board that is connected to a computer which the teacher and the students can use for computer-based work
C)   A regular chalkboard that has been painted white
D)   An expensive piece of technological equipment with questionable value for classroom use B

Question 2

What is the most common use of graphic organizer software?

Accepted Answer

A)   To show the steps in an experimental procedure
B)   To record observations
C)   To demonstrate hypotheses
D)   To show concepts and their relationships to each other D

Question 3

SciLINKS and the National Science Digital Library have what in common?

Accepted Answer

A)   They both have direct links to science information sites.
B)   They both have videos suitable for classroom use.
C)   They both have research-based articles to help teachers prepare their science lessons and units.
D)   They both have science games and simulations suitable for use in elementary science education programs. A

Question 4

A constructivist elementary science teacher is having the students explore static electricity by rubbing blown-up balloons of various sizes with a piece of wool cloth and then holding each rubbed balloon above a bowl of puffed cereal. Students measure the distance between the balloon and the cereal when the cereal first begins to be attracted to the balloon, and they measure the number of pieces of cereal each balloon holds. What computer application would help the students interpret their data?

Accepted Answer

A)   Word processing
B)   Database
C)   Graphing program
D)   Graphic organizer program
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 5

What is true of online learning?

Accepted Answer

A)   It takes place over the Internet instead of in a classroom.
B)   It enables students to study science topics that are not offered in school.
C)   It appears to foster higher achievement than traditional teaching.
D)   It enables the teacher to make adjustments easily to accommodate individual differences and interests.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of the microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) computer-based technology?

Accepted Answer

A)   A CD-ROM
B)   An electronic spreadsheet
C)   A graphing program
D)   A motion detector
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 7

Why would a constructivist science teacher want the students to use computer-based laboratory probes to gather data rather than the tried and true hands-on methods?

Accepted Answer

A)   Computer-based probes are more accurate.
B)   Computer-based probes can take measurements that students cannot take because of human limitations and limitations of time.
C)   The computers that accompany computer-based probes can construct accurate graphs of the data collected by the probes.
D)   The computers that accompany computer-based probes can perform accurate mathematical calculations from the data.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 8

W What is the Internet?

Accepted Answer

A)   A network of millions of loosely-connected information sites
B)   The same as a web site
C)   A system of searching for information
D)   A system of cataloguing information into main categories

Question 9

W What position does the National Educational Technology Plan take with respect to technology use in schools?

Accepted Answer

A)   Schools should use technology to promote increased student achievement.
B)   Schools should use technology to assess student achievement.
C)   Schools should use technology to help teachers improve their teaching.
D)   Schools should use technology to make knowledge available to everyone.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 10

W According to the text, which kind of computer-based technology can give the most support to students in their individual inquiries?

Accepted Answer

A)   Tutoring
B)   Interactive
C)   Experimenting
D)   The Internet
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 11

How can presentation software such as PowerPoint be useful in a constructivist science class?

Accepted Answer

A)   It can help students clarify and organize their thoughts.
B)   It can serve as a method of assessment.
C)   It can enable the teacher to prepare and present introductory material that the teacher feels is germane to the lesson.
D)   It can serve as a means for students to present summaries of their explorations and findings to the class.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 12

What is a Wiki?

Accepted Answer

A)   A secret website that only certain people can access
B)   A website developed by a teacher or student whose content can be accessed and critiqued by anyone if the restrictions are unlimited
C)   A form of the World Wide Web
D)   A website designed to poll people's opinions

Question 13

Why would a constructivist science teacher want the students to use the Internet in class?

Accepted Answer

A)   So the students can find the information they need to continue their individual inquiries
B)   So the students can find information about topics that they may not be able to study in class
C)   So the students can find what others have done in their explorations of the topics the students are studying
D)   So the teacher can prepare interesting and relevant material that can foster students' pursuits of their investigations
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 14

How can the Internet be used to foster students' individual inquiries in a constructivist science classroom?

Accepted Answer

A)   Students can participate in scientific research projects that require information from many locations.
B)   Students can find suggestions for continuing their guided inquiry projects.
C)   Students can find additional information about topics they are studying.
D)   Students can communicate with scientists and students in other locations about topics they are exploring.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 15

According to the text, what is meant by "Interactive Uses of Computers?"

Accepted Answer

A)   Using the computer to help do a task
B)   Using the computer to study prepared material
C)   Using the computer to work through a tutorial
D)   Using the computer to take tests
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 16

W A constructivist science teacher is having the students explore the differences between atoms and molecules using reference materials, plastic models, and the Internet. The teacher assigns the students to summarize their findings in writing and turn in the summaries. What computer application would best support this activity?

Accepted Answer

A)   Word processing
B)   Database
C)   Graphing program
D)   Graphic organizer program
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 17

W If a constructivist science teacher is unfamiliar with certain computer-based technologies, how can the teacher gain the needed expertise?

Accepted Answer

A)   Attend a class on how to use the technology and how to implement it in the science program.
B)   Study the directions for use or take the tutorial that accompanies many computer-based technologies.
C)   Get help from the media specialist.
D)   Use the "help" feature.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 18

W What is a computer-based simulation?

Accepted Answer

A)   A program that enables specialized technicians to perfect their skills artificially
B)   A program that enables science students to see the results of changing certain variables in an experimental procedure
C)   A program that enables people to envision certain catastrophic events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes
D)   A program that enables scientific researchers to predict the result of their research
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Question 19

What do most science educators advise about using science-based computer games in the classroom?

Accepted Answer

A)   Don't use games because they are frivolous.
B)   Use games because students are familiar and comfortable with them.
C)   Don't use games because they don't follow the prescribed curriculum.
D)   Use games to replace hands-on activities.

Question 20

W Why would a teacher want students to use presentation software such as PowerPoint to make presentations for the class instead of doing the presentations using poster board?

Accepted Answer

A)   Presentation software requires that students organize their material in presentation-friendly formats.
B)   Presentation software offers more ways of organizing and presenting information than poster boards.
C)   Photographs and videos students took with digital cameras can be shown in a PowerPoint presentation.
D)   More material can be presented using PowerPoint than using poster boards.
E)   All of the aboveF)  None of the above

Exam 11: Technology in Elementary Science Education