CT Instructional Design & Curriculum Development 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A trainer is designing a blended learning program. Which combination best exemplifies a true blended approach?
- An all-day classroom session with a printed workbook
- Online pre-work modules combined with an in-person skills practice workshop (Correct answer)
- A virtual meeting followed by an email summary
- Self-paced reading assignments with a written final exam
Correct answer: Online pre-work modules combined with an in-person skills practice workshop
True blended learning intentionally integrates online and face-to-face modalities so each leverages its strengths—online for knowledge delivery, in-person for application and feedback.
Question 2: Which of the following scenarios represents a 'cognitive apprenticeship' instructional approach?
- Learners watch a recorded lecture and take a quiz
- An expert models thinking aloud while solving a problem, then coaches learners as they try (Correct answer)
- Learners read case studies and discuss them in small groups
- Learners complete a self-assessment before starting the course
Correct answer: An expert models thinking aloud while solving a problem, then coaches learners as they try
Cognitive apprenticeship makes expert thinking visible through modeling and think-alouds, then scaffolds learners as they practice, gradually removing support.
Question 3: When evaluating curriculum alignment, a trainer checks whether assessments actually test what the learning objectives specify. This process is called:
- Content validity review (Correct answer)
- Reliability testing
- Item difficulty analysis
- Norm-referenced comparison
Correct answer: Content validity review
Content validity review verifies that assessment items directly measure the knowledge and skills stated in the learning objectives, ensuring alignment.
Question 4: A new CT candidate is asked to write an enabling objective. Which best describes its relationship to the terminal objective?
- It replaces the terminal objective when the terminal objective is too complex
- It is a subordinate skill or knowledge component that supports achieving the terminal objective (Correct answer)
- It is an alternative terminal objective for lower-performing learners
- It describes the trainer's facilitation strategy for the terminal objective
Correct answer: It is a subordinate skill or knowledge component that supports achieving the terminal objective
Enabling objectives identify the prerequisite knowledge and skills learners must acquire to ultimately achieve the broader terminal objective.
Question 5: Which of the following describes the primary advantage of using case studies in a training curriculum?
- They allow the trainer to control all variables in the learning environment
- They provide a standardized, efficient way to deliver factual content
- They bridge theory and practice by presenting realistic, complex situations for analysis (Correct answer)
- They eliminate the need for subject matter expert (SME) input during design
Correct answer: They bridge theory and practice by presenting realistic, complex situations for analysis
Case studies present realistic, multifaceted scenarios that require learners to apply theoretical knowledge to analyze problems and make decisions, mirroring real-world complexity.
Question 6: A trainer is applying the '10/20/30 Rule' to a presentation component of her curriculum. What does this rule specify?
- 10 modules, 20 minutes each, 30 questions total
- No more than 10 slides, lasting 20 minutes, using 30-point minimum font size (Correct answer)
- 10 participants max, 20 activities, 30-minute breaks
- 10 learning objectives, 20 examples, 30 practice questions
Correct answer: No more than 10 slides, lasting 20 minutes, using 30-point minimum font size
Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 Rule recommends presentations use at most 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes, and use a font size no smaller than 30 points.
Question 7: Which instructional strategy is MOST aligned with Malcolm Knowles' principles of andragogy?
- Mandatory seat time with no learner choice in sequencing
- Problem-centered learning where learners address challenges relevant to their roles (Correct answer)
- Rote memorization drills to build foundational knowledge
- Instructor-directed pacing with no accommodation for prior experience
Correct answer: Problem-centered learning where learners address challenges relevant to their roles
Knowles' andragogy emphasizes that adults are motivated by learning that solves real problems and is relevant to their lives and work, making problem-centered design ideal.
CT Instructional Design & Curriculum Development 5
A trainer is designing a blended learning program.
Which combination best exemplifies a true blended approach?