APE Curriculum Design & Program Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in Adaptive Physical Education?
- To document a student's medical history and physical limitations
- To outline measurable annual goals and services tailored to the student's unique needs (Correct answer)
- To replace the general physical education curriculum entirely
- To satisfy state reporting requirements for special education funding
Correct answer: To outline measurable annual goals and services tailored to the student's unique needs
The IEP is a legally mandated document that outlines measurable annual goals, present levels of performance, and the specific services—including APE—designed to meet a student's individual needs.
Question 2: Which curriculum model is MOST appropriate for designing APE programs for students with severe or multiple disabilities?
- Developmental curriculum model
- Sport education model
- Ecological/functional curriculum model (Correct answer)
- Movement education model
Correct answer: Ecological/functional curriculum model
The ecological/functional curriculum model prioritizes real-world, age-appropriate functional skills that can be used in the student's current and future environments, making it most suitable for students with severe or multiple disabilities.
Question 3: When writing annual goals for an APE student's IEP, which characteristic is MOST essential?
- Goals should reference grade-level physical education standards
- Goals must be measurable and based on the student's present level of performance (Correct answer)
- Goals should be identical to those of non-disabled peers in the same grade
- Goals must be approved by the school district's physical education coordinator
Correct answer: Goals must be measurable and based on the student's present level of performance
IDEA requires that IEP annual goals be measurable and directly derived from the student's present level of performance (PLOP), ensuring individualized and accountable programming.
Question 4: What does 'ecological validity' mean in the context of APE curriculum design?
- Ensuring that all physical activities take place outdoors in natural environments
- Designing curriculum activities that reflect the real environments where skills will be used (Correct answer)
- Using environmentally friendly equipment and materials in physical education
- Adapting activities to comply with environmental health and safety regulations
Correct answer: Designing curriculum activities that reflect the real environments where skills will be used
Ecological validity in APE means selecting and designing activities that are relevant to the actual environments—home, school, community—where students will apply their physical skills.
Question 5: Which factor should be considered FIRST when developing an APE program for a new student?
- Reviewing available adaptive equipment in the gymnasium
- Consulting with the student's classroom teacher about behavioral concerns
- Conducting a comprehensive assessment to determine present levels of performance (Correct answer)
- Reviewing the student's previous physical education grades
Correct answer: Conducting a comprehensive assessment to determine present levels of performance
A comprehensive assessment establishes the student's present levels of performance, which is the foundation for writing appropriate IEP goals, selecting activities, and planning the entire APE program.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the 'top-down' curriculum model in APE?
- Starting with prerequisite developmental skills and progressing toward complex activities
- Beginning with age-appropriate activities from the environment and teaching needed sub-skills (Correct answer)
- Using district-level standards to guide individual student goals
- Having administrators set program priorities before teachers plan lessons
Correct answer: Beginning with age-appropriate activities from the environment and teaching needed sub-skills
The top-down model starts by identifying age-appropriate activities from the student's natural environment (the 'top') and then breaks down the specific skills needed to participate in those activities.
Question 7: How is a 'present level of performance' (PLOP) BEST used in APE program planning?
- As a comparison to determine whether the student qualifies for special education
- As the baseline from which annual goals and instructional objectives are developed (Correct answer)
- As a final report of student achievement to share with parents at year end
- As a ranking system to place students in the appropriate physical education class
Correct answer: As the baseline from which annual goals and instructional objectives are developed
The PLOP describes what the student can currently do and serves as the baseline from which meaningful, measurable annual APE goals and short-term objectives are written.
APE Curriculum Design & Program Planning 1
What is the primary purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in Adaptive Physical Education?