April 2011 LET Results

        Congratulations to the new batch of professional teachers who passed the Licensure Examinations for Teachers held last April 3, 2011. I hope that some of these passers have visited my blog and have used what they learned when they took the test. I hope that I have in some way or another helped them. The list of the passers is all over the net. Just google them if you like (hehehe). However, I would like to specially congratulate those who have made it in the Top 10 April 2011 LET Takers. I suppose that your family and friends are really proud of you. Make use of what you have achieved to help yourself and your family, and of course for the greater glory of God. (wew...I can't believe I'm saying these...hehehe) Congrats again!!!

April 2011 Top 10 LET Passers (Elementary and Secondary)

LET Tips: David Ausubel's Subsumption Theory

    It's a bit hard to find questions relating to this theory. I must admit (and I'm sorry Sir David) that this theory is not that popular among education students (but if you ask them about Piaget, they will answer you immediately). However, let us never neglect how important this theory is since this can be very helpful in making the most common type of teaching more meaningful.


1. Teacher Rhea teaches first all about the continents then discusses each continent in detail. Teacher Rhea adheres to whom?
A. Albert Bandura
B. Robert Gagne
C. David Ausubel
D. Michael Flavell

2. According to Ausubel, this is presenting first the general idea of the subject rather than teaching the information in isolation.
A. Mental Schema
B. Cognitive Discrimination
C. Progressive Differentiation
D.Process of Subsumption

3. David Ausubel proposed the use of what important instructional material?
A. Audio-Visual Aids
B. Simulation
C. Mock-ups
D. Advance Organizers

4. Subsumption Theory makes what teaching approach more meaningful?
A. Experiential Learning Approach
B. Expository Approach
C. Collaborative Approach
D. Hands-on Approach

5. In the school setting, it is a common practice in Language teaching to teach the learners first the skills in listening, then speaking, reading and writing respectively. Which theory adheres to this principle?
A. Subsumption Theory
B. Information Processing Theory
C. VAK Theory
D. Constructivist Theory

I will no longer post the answers. You will have the responsibility to search for answers. Anyway, the answers are found in my previous posts.

LET (Licensure Examinations for Teachers) Tips: Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

          Forgive me if I wasn't able to update my blog that often. There was a lot of "ATs" going on in the public school system. If you are not familiar with these, I am actually referring to achievement tests namely Division Achievement Test, Regional Achievement Test and the upcoming National Achievement Test this March. These tests are conducted to measure the extent of learning of pupils among public schools in our country. But to be honest, I'm actually skeptical if these tests really "measure" what they really want to measure. Hmmmmm....
          Going back to my usual business (thank God for the holiday), here are some of the questions that usually come out visavis Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory. As I said many times, these are just the "look" of how the questions are constructed and asked in LET. (Answers are found below, please READ first the questions before scrolling down.)

1. Young Mary saw her mother applying make-up in front of the mirror. She then went to her room and  color her face with crayons. Which psychologist can best explain Mary's behavior?
A. B. F. Skinner
B. Jean Piaget
C. Albert Bandura
D. Ivan Pavlov

2. Teacher C demonstrated the steps in ChaCha before he let his pupils do the dance. Which theory adheres to this teaching strategy?
A. PsychoSocial Theory
B. Purposive Behavior
C. Constructivist Theory
D. Social Learning Theory

3. Teacher Maila wanted to apply Bandura's principles in learning. Which of the following will she most likely do?
A. Exhibit good and proper attitudes in teaching values in GMRC
B. Present concrete materials in teaching Science
C. Do oral graded recitation in Language
D. Have the pupils draw different polygons in Mathematics

4. Which must first be taken into consideration for effective modelling to occur?
A. The learner must be able to replicate the behavior the model exhibits
B. The learner must be able to pay attention to the model
C. The learner must be motivated
D. The learner must retain what he has observed

5. Which does NOT adhere to Albert Bandura's theory?
A. Learners can learn by observing other people
B. Learners must have direct experience of the consequences of one's behavior in order to learn
C. Teachers can demonstration method as a teaching strategy
D. Teachers must serve as role models for the learners


Answers:
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. B
Any questions, violent reactions and comments about the questions and answers are welcome.

LET TIPS: Before the Big Day

A day before the LET, I believe most of you now are a bit nervous. You don't have to worry, you have prepared a lot for this day so just give your best shot. Here are my own tips about the LET that you may or may not follow. These are actually based on my own experience and I really would like to share these with you.

1. Don't ask the proctor if you will see something wrong about the question, items, etc. You can't change the question anymore, because if you want to change it, then the rest of the test items given to other examinees will be changed as well, and this is not possible, you know right? You are much more knowledgeable about the exam you are taking than the proctor. Just ask the proctor if you notice lack pages, creased answer sheets, discrepancies in i.d. numbers etc.

2. Expect typographical errors. If you think and you're hundred percent sure that an item is the correct answer, but it lacks a letter, or 2 or more "jumbled" letters, then go for that answer. Probably it's just a typographical error.

3. If an item is more complete than the other items, then go for that item. Apply dialecticism. Example, choices will go like this: a. Beautiful b. Pretty c. Beautiful and Pretty. Among the given choices, choose letter c because it contains the answer of a and b, thus more complete.

4. It's okay to have erasures, but avoid this as much as possible. If you really need to erase, make it neat and clean.

5. Shade gently. Don't make your pencil too pointed. After you sharpen your pencil, scribble it first in a separate piece of paper to make the tip not too sharp and pointed. This will make the mark dark enough, but easier to erase.

6. Don't consume your time to a difficult item. Skip if necessary but make sure to go back to that item before giving your answer sheet. Mark the items that you have skipped NOT ON THE ANSWER SHEET BUT ON THE TEST BOOKLET.

7. In choosing your answer, you can use the cancellation technique. Cancel out the items that are too far to be the answer. Rationalize why that item is the correct answer. However, when I answered during the exam, I did this reversely. What I did was to choose first my answer, then rationalize why other items are wrong and mine is the correct answer.

8. If in case you totally have no idea about the answer, your last resort will be this(as advised by one of the LET topnotchers): Close your eyes, say a little prayer, then shade.

9. Don't forget to pray not only before the exam but all throughout the duration of your exam. In your every shade, say a little prayer. Pray that may your mind and hand be guided and enlightened by God. After the exam, don't forget to thank God for surviving the whole examination process.

9. Listen to the proctor's instruction, or read your examinee's manual. Don't rush. Fill out forms slowly but surely.

10. Consume your time. So what if you're the last one left inside the room? When I took the LET, I was the second to the last who went out of the room. Don't rush. Check your answers. Pray before giving your answer sheet.

11. Before answering, shade what SET you will be answering, either Set A or B. Always shade this first. Shade it correctly if you don't want your dreams to shutter. Joke...

11. The last and final tip, ENJOY. I can still remember how I smiled when the proctor gave the test booklets. I was excited to test my self and my preparation for the exam. Take a deep breath. Inhale, inhale, don't exhale. Joke. Exhale.

These are just some of the tips. If you think these won't work for you, don't do all of these. Do it your own way. Always remember, ask God for guidance. Ask someone to light a candle in your home's altar. Put it in a vigil candle. Don't use an ordinary candle(sperma) if you don't want your house to turn into ashes. Hehehe... Seriously, this will represent that your mind may be enlightened in the duration of the exam. So Good Luck! God Bless future teachers!

LET Tips: Integrative Teaching Strategies

1. Which is not a characteristic of integrative teaching?
A. Recognizes learning around areas
B. Links ideas to action
C. Array of lessons is built around individual ideas
D. Enhances concept development

2. The focus of this strategy is the topic or subject matter wherein learners are focused on learning about something by the use of the content of another subject.
A. Content Based Instruction
B. Thematic Teaching
C. Generic Competency Model
D. Focusing Inquiry

3. According to the DepEd Manual of the BEC Primer, it helps the learners see the meaningful connection across the discipline or skill areas.
A. Content Based Instruction
B. Thematic Teaching
C. Focusing Inquiry
D. Generic Competency Model

4. Teacher O started the lesson by identifying preliminary questions and information. Which strategy did he employ?
A. Content Based Instruction
B. Thematic Teaching
C. Generic Competency Model
D. Focusing Inquiry

5. Learners are enrolled in three to four limited courses that will lead to the culminating performance.
A. Generic Competency Model
B. Content Based Instruction
C. Thematic Teaching
D. Focusing Inquiry

Answer Key: 1. C; 2. A; 3. B; 4. D; 5. A

LET Tips: Sigmund Freud's Theory of Psychosexual Development

1. Teacher Sakura(for a change...hehehe) noticed that one of her students is fund of biting the tip of the ballpen. Which theory will best explain her student's behavior?
A. Piaget's Cognitive Theory
B. Pavlov's Classical Conditioning
C. Freud's Psychosexual Theory
D. Skinner's Operant Conditioning

2. Naruto, who is 5-years old, is fund of playing with his penis when he urinates. In which stage of Freud's theory can Naruto be considered?
A. Phallic
B. Genital
C. Anal
D. Latency

3. Latency stage is considered as the "calm" stage of psychosexual development. Which explains this condition?
A. Children have less energy on this stage
B. Children are not interested about their sex organs
C. The libido is blocked temporarily
D. Sexual energy is diverted to school and peer activities

4. When the daughter is competing with the mother for the father's attention, the daughter is said to be experiencing,
A. Oedipus Complex
B. Electra Complex
C. Fixation
D. Identity Crisis

5. Which will probably happen if a child failed to resolve the crisis of the anal stage?
A. The child may become sexually promiscuous
B. The child may have problems with trust
C. The child may become obesessed with cleanliness
D. The child may become a smoker

Answer Key: 1. C; 2. A; 3. D; 4. B; 5. C
Questions or clarifications about the answers are welcome. Feel free to post it on the comment box.

LET Tips: Information Processing Theory

1. Teacher Max wanted his students to be able to retain each day's lesson. Which of the following will least contribute to this?
A. Grouping ideas
B. Detailed notes
C. Providing hand outs
D. Mnemonic devices

2. Which is the first important step for the information to be processed?
A. Rehearsal
B. Sensory Register
C. Attention
D. Organization

3. Teacher Xena believes that in order to make her students learn effectively, the knowledge about short and long term memory is important. She adheres to which theory?
A. Information Processing
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Subsumption
D. Connectionism

4. Teacher Betty applies her knowledge on information processing among her learners. She can be considered as a/an,
A. Idealist
B. Behaviorist
C. Constructivist
D. Cognitivist

5. Learners can hold 3 to 7 chunks of information in the short term memory, what does this imply?
A. It is important to gain the learners' attention.
B. Teach the students to note important ideas.
C. Repeat and rehearse the information.
D. Play memory games.

Answer Key: 1. B; 2. C; 3. A; 4. D; 5. B

LET Tips: Theories of Moral Development

You may have wondered why I only have 5 items for my LET tips. To be honest it is hard to find specific questions about a certain topic/theory. As a matter of fact, a question relating to a certain topic/theory will only appear perhaps once, twice, and sometimes even never. Nonetheless, I hope that through these questions you now have acquired ideas about how topics in education are being asked in the LET and be able to answer these questions as correctly as possible.

1. During their examinations, Mia didn't cheat and avoided looking at her classmate's answer. She did this because of her worry that her classmates will call her "cheater" and "dishonest", if she will be caught by the teacher. In what stage of moral development can Mia be considered?
A. Universal Ethical Principle
B. Good Boy/Good Girl
C. Mutual Benefit
D. Punishment/Obedience

2. The child's concept of right and wrong is based on external criteria laid by adults during the level of preconventional morality. This is based on the ideas of,
A. Piaget
B. Kohlberg
C. Freud
D. Erikson

3. Democratic type of government gives chance for its citizens to make or break a law. Which stage of Kohlberg's moral development theory explains this?
A. Law and Order
B. Universal Ethical Principles
C. Social Contract
D. Punishment/Obedience

4. Kohlberg suggested that schools must give opportunity for the students to develop moral growth. Which of the following did he promote?
A. Equal Education
B. Just Community
C. Academic Freedom
D. Community Collaboration

5. If boys are more inclined to justice in their moral reasoning, girls are more inclined to,
A. Peace
B. Harmony
C. Order
D. Care

Answer Key: 1. B; 2. B; 3. C; 4. B; 5. D

LET Tips: Constructivism

Note: Please answer first before scrolling down. The correct answers are found at the bottom of the post. I will not discuss further the correct answers so if there are any reactions or questions, feel free to comment.

1. It is the revisiting of topics in the curriculum in line with the learners' cognitive level.
A. Direct Teaching
B. Programmed Instruction
C. Spiral Curriculum
D. Hidden Curriculum

2. Which material will best present the concept of numbers in a 6-year old child?
A. Flashcards
B. Pictures
C. Beans
D. Numerals

3. Teacher Lea is a constructivist. She sees learners as:
A. a blank slate
B. full of experiences
C. respond to stimulus
D. empty vessel

4. Which is the aid given by the teacher for the student to accomplish a task that the latter can't accomplish independently?
A. Spiral Curriculum
B. Fade Away Technique
C. Zone of Proximal Development
D. Scaffolding

5. "Learning is an interactive and interpersonal activity." Which psychologist could have said this?
A. Lev Vygotsky
B. Jean Piaget
C. Jerome Bruner
D. Ivan Pavlov

Answer Key: 1. C; 2. C; 3. B; 4. D; 5. A

LET Tips: Behaviorism

Here are some items that would probably come out in the LET or the Licensure Examinations for Teachers. Take note, I don't have any affiliations to the Board of Professional Teachers. What I'm presenting here are just examples of the questions or shall I say the type and style of the questions usually being asked. I hope I made myself clear. Nevertheless, at least you will have an idea that the questions are not just simple memory recall but require you think very well. Please answer as you scroll down. The answers are at the bottom of the post.

1. The principal called for a faculty meeting about how can they improve instruction and enhance the learning of their students. Each teacher was asked to give a suggestion. Teacher Nimfa suggested that the physical classroom arrangement must be improved and must be flexible enough for the different activities prepared for the students. Teacher Nimfa's suggestion is that of a/an __________.
A. Idealist
B. Behaviorist
C. Perennialist
D. Realist

2. Teacher A wants to promote punctuality among her pupils. If she will employ negative reinforcement, how will she do this?
A. Give plus points for punctual pupils.
B. Exempt punctual pupils from cleaning the room.
C. Deduct points for late pupils.
D. Post a Most Punctual Kid Award in the class bulletin board.

3. Programmed Instruction is credited to which psychologist?
A. Jean Piaget
B. Sigmund Freud
C. B. F. Skinner
D. Ivan Pavlov

4. Riya is afraid of exams. Her teacher usually gives an exam every Friday. Now, Riya is afraid of Friday eventhough it is not certain whether or not her teacher will give an exam on that day. Which theory illustrates Riya's behavior?
A. Classical Conditioning
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Constructivist Theory
D. Connectionism Theory

5. Sir Miles always makes sure to give a Joke for the Day before he starts his class. Which is most likely the reason behind Sir Miles habit?
A. Law of Effect
B. Law of Exercise
C. Law of Conditioning
D. Law of Readiness

1. B; 2. B; 3. C; 4. A; 5. D

LET Tips: Possible Questions on Piaget and His Theory

One of my reasons why I made this blog was to actually help those who will get the LET or the Licensure Examination for Teachers pass the exam. I just took the exam last October 2009 and I was blessed that out of over forty thousand examinees who took the exam, I got the highest rating all over the Philippines. I was very honored and happy and I really want to share what I have.
Below are some of the possible items that are usually included in the exam. They may not the exact questions but at least you will have an idea of the possible questions given in the exam. Just try to answer as best as you can. Please don't immediately scroll down because I placed the answers at the bottom.

1. Two identical beakers A and B are presented to the child. The teacher pours the liquid from B to C, which is taller and thinner than both A and B. The teacher asks which beaker has the most amount of water. The child points at beaker C. In what cognitive developmental stage the child is?
A. Formal Operational Stage
B. Concrete Operational Stage
C. PreOperational Stage
D. Sensorimotor Stage
2. Liz's mother has two crackers, both equal in size. She broke one of the crackers into four pieces. Liz's wants more crackers so she chose the cracker which was divided to four pieces. What does Liz's choice illustrate?
A. Assimilation
B. Centration
C. Accommodation
D. Conservation
3. Which level of cognitive development will properties of mathematical operations can be taught?
A. PreOperational Stage
B. SensoriMotor Stage
C. Formal Operational Stage
D. Concrete Operational Stage

Correct Answers:
1. C- The child manifests centration which is one of the characteristics of preoperational children.
2. D- Liz has not yet develop conservation, or the ability to know that certain properties like the mass do not change even if there is a change in appearance.
3. D- At this stage, children know the concept of reversibility.