CRI Student Assessment & Mentoring 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes criterion-referenced assessment in court reporting education?
- Comparing a student's score to the average score of the class
- Measuring student performance against a fixed standard, such as 95% accuracy at a given speed (Correct answer)
- Ranking students from highest to lowest speed achievement
- Evaluating students based on effort rather than outcome
Correct answer: Measuring student performance against a fixed standard, such as 95% accuracy at a given speed
Criterion-referenced assessment measures whether a student has met a defined competency standard, independent of peer performance.
Question 2: A mentee asks for feedback on an audio-recorded jury charge. The MOST effective mentor approach is to:
- Listen once and give a global score
- Return the original audio without comment
- Annotate the transcript, noting error patterns and suggesting specific remediation drills (Correct answer)
- Praise all effort and defer specific critique until final exams
Correct answer: Annotate the transcript, noting error patterns and suggesting specific remediation drills
Annotated transcripts with error-pattern identification enable targeted remediation rather than vague global feedback.
Question 3: In the context of CRI mentoring, 'scaffolding' refers to:
- Building physical writing stands for steno machines
- Temporarily providing support structures that are gradually removed as competency grows (Correct answer)
- Adding more challenging material before a student is ready
- Repeating the same exercise until a student passes
Correct answer: Temporarily providing support structures that are gradually removed as competency grows
Scaffolding is a temporary instructional support that fades as the learner gains independence and competence.
Question 4: When designing a speed-building test plan, which sequence reflects best practice?
- Begin at the highest target speed to identify maximum capability
- Administer tests at random speeds each session
- Progress systematically from mastered speeds with periodic step-backs to consolidate gains (Correct answer)
- Only test at speeds the student has already passed
Correct answer: Progress systematically from mastered speeds with periodic step-backs to consolidate gains
Systematic progression with consolidation step-backs prevents regression and builds durable speed across the range.
Question 5: A student consistently drops the final word of a sentence in Q&A dictation. This error pattern MOST likely indicates:
- A hardware defect in the steno machine
- Inadequate anticipation and end-of-sentence preparation (Correct answer)
- A vocabulary deficit unrelated to speed
- A problem with the student's audio equipment
Correct answer: Inadequate anticipation and end-of-sentence preparation
Dropping sentence-final words typically signals a failure to anticipate closure, often addressed through phrasing and anticipation drills.
Question 6: Which assessment method BEST measures a student's readiness for the NCRA RPR speed examination?
- A multiple-choice theory quiz
- Timed, proctored dictation tests at examination speeds with official accuracy grading (Correct answer)
- A self-reported practice log
- An oral interview about court reporting procedures
Correct answer: Timed, proctored dictation tests at examination speeds with official accuracy grading
The most valid predictor of RPR success is performance under conditions that closely mirror the actual examination.
Question 7: An instructor observing a student's live deposition practice should PRIMARILY note:
- The student's clothing and professional appearance only
- Accuracy patterns, phrasing habits, and realtime translation quality (Correct answer)
- How quickly the student sets up the equipment
- Whether the student uses the same theory as the instructor
Correct answer: Accuracy patterns, phrasing habits, and realtime translation quality
Observing accuracy patterns, phrasing, and realtime quality provides actionable data for targeted instructional feedback.
CRI Student Assessment & Mentoring 3
Which of the following BEST describes criterion-referenced assessment in court reporting education?