Study Guide

Field 047: Technology Education (Subtest II)
Sample Constructed-Response Assignments

The following materials contain:

Directions for the Focused Constructed-Response Assignments

For each constructed-response assignment in this section, you are to prepare a written response of approximately 150–200 words.

Read each assignment carefully before you begin to write. Think about how you will organize what you plan to write. You may use erasable sheets provided to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. However, each of your final responses must be either:

  1. typed into the on-screen response box,
  2. written on a response sheet and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation, or
  3. provided using both the on-screen response box (for typed text) and a response sheet (for calculations or drawings) that you will scan using the scanner provided at your workstation.

Instructions for scanning your response sheet(s) are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.

Your responses will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

  • Purpose: The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
  • Content Knowledge: The extent to which the response accurately and effectively applies the relevant content knowledge and skills
  • Support: The extent to which the response provides relevant and specific support

The assignments are intended to assess subject matter knowledge and skills, not writing ability. Your responses, however, must be communicated clearly enough to permit a valid judgment of your knowledge and skills. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in the field.

Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work. Please write legibly when using the response sheets. You may not use any reference materials during the testing session. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Any time spent responding to an assignment, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.

Sample Focused Constructed-Response Assignment #1

Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.

You have been asked to design a vehicle for delivering mail and packages within a 50-story office building.

Using your knowledge of power and energy technology, write a response in which you:

  • identify your choice for an energy source and explain why this is an appropriate choice;
  • describe one design feature that will help maximize the vehicle's efficiency; and
  • describe one design limitation imposed by existing infrastructure.

Sample Strong Response to Focused Constructed-Response Assignment #1

An effective mail delivery system begins with efficient sorting of incoming mail. Automatic mail sorters with optical character reading (OCR) capability could sort and bar code mail by floor before depositing it in a floor-specific bin. The OCR system could allow for personal e-mail notification when a person has mail waiting. Bar coding could be used to track registered and certified mail until it is delivered to the proper recipient. To maximize efficiency, a pneumatic tube powered by an electric motor could be used to deliver much of the mail from the sorter to individual floors. Each floor could have its own mail collection room, from which a human-powered, large wheeled cart with a carrying bin could be used to make deliveries on the floor. The cart would be quiet and non-polluting and would be sufficiently quick and efficient for an interior delivery operation. It could blend with the flow of pedestrian traffic in the corridors.

The design should be well proportioned--low and wide enough for stability yet small and streamlined enough for maneuverability--so that the operator will not become overly fatigued.

The vehicle must also be small enough to fit in existing corridors, offices, and elevators.

Sample Focused Constructed-Response Assignment #2

Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.

You have been asked to lead the roll-out team for promoting a new personal digital audio device developed by your national corporation. Your team members include marketing, information and communication, and design professionals located throughout the United States. Your team will be responsible for developing marketing materials and product packaging.

Using your knowledge of information and communication technology, write a response in which you:

  • identify the hardware that will be needed for this task;
  • describe the different working teams that will be needed for the task;
  • describe appropriate security and privacy safeguards, including software, that will be needed; and
  • describe how the likely target market for this product affects your communication decisions.

Sample Strong Response to Focused Constructed-Response Assignment #2

In order to coordinate their efforts over such a large geographic range, the roll-out team will have to have a communications system in place. If the company does not already have an intranet, they will need to set one up or consider an alternative such as a virtual private network (VPN). The system should have adequate encryption since much of the information will be proprietary. For some applications, videoconferencing would be most appropriate. In setting up the videoconferencing system, they should pay special attention to the system's bandwidth as this is the system resource that is most apt to cause problems if it is not sufficient. Because much of the work will involve assessment of visual material, the printing equipment at each node should be capable of producing design ideas at a quality that facilitates decision making.

The group should include a market research team, a product and service support team, a wholesaling and logistics management team, and an advertising and public relations team.

Security will be especially important for transmissions between the nodes of the computer system. Data should be adequately encrypted by a private key encryption system. A firewall and virus-protection software should protect the system from unauthorized access from the outside. Log-on procedures should include passwords of sufficient sophistication to minimize the threat from code-breaking software. All hard copies at each location, and the hardware itself, should be protected by adequate physical security measures.

A marketing campaign for a personal digital audio device is most likely to be aimed at the teen market and the young adult market. Style will be more important than it would be for some other market segments. Also, media outlets that focus on this group will be important in gaining acceptance for the device.

Sample Focused Constructed-Response Assignment #3

Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.

You have been assigned to lead a team responsible for manufacturing a new coffee maker.

Using your knowledge of project development, write a response in which you:

  • identify three professions needed to complete this project;
  • identify three major tasks that must take place in the manufacturing of this product and explain why the order in which these three tasks are implemented is important; and
  • diagram the process flow for fabricating this product.

Sample Strong Response to Focused Constructed-Response Assignment #3

Performance Characteristics

Responses are scored holistically based on the following performance characteristics:

Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
Content Knowledge The extent to which the response accurately and effectively applies the relevant content knowledge and skills
Support The extent to which the response provides relevant and specific support

Scoring Scale

The three points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point Score Point Description
3
 The "3" response reflects a thorough understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response thoroughly achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates an accurate and effective application of relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides relevant and specific support.
2
 The "2" response reflects a general understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response largely achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates a generally accurate and generally effective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides some relevant support.
1
 The "1" response reflects limited or no understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response partially achieves or fails to achieve the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates a limited, inaccurate or ineffective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides limited or no relevant support.
U
 The response is unrelated to the assignment, is unreadable, is primarily in a language other than English, or does not contain a sufficient amount of original work to score.
B
 There is no response to the assignment.