TEA Technology in Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The SAMR model is used to evaluate technology integration. Which level represents a fundamental redesign of a task that would be impossible without technology?
- Substitution
- Augmentation
- Modification
- Redefinition (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Redefinition
Redefinition is the highest SAMR level, where technology allows the creation of new tasks previously inconceivable without it.
Question 2: A principal wants to support data-driven instruction using technology. Which practice best enables teachers to use real-time data to adjust instruction?
- Administering annual standardized tests and reviewing results in summer
- Using formative assessment platforms that provide immediate, actionable feedback during lessons (Correct answer)
- Requiring weekly printed grade reports from the LMS
- Having teachers manually record scores in spreadsheets after each unit
Correct answer: Using formative assessment platforms that provide immediate, actionable feedback during lessons
Formative assessment platforms deliver real-time data teachers can act on immediately to adjust instruction within a lesson or unit.
Question 3: Which Texas state policy governs the acceptable use of technology on public school campuses and must be signed by students and parents?
- Texas Open Records Act compliance form
- Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) required under TEC §26.0091 guidance (Correct answer)
- Digital Citizenship Pledge under TEA mandate
- Internet Safety Agreement under CIPA
Correct answer: Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) required under TEC §26.0091 guidance
An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), aligned with state guidance and CIPA requirements, is the required agreement governing student technology use on Texas campuses.
Question 4: A new principal inherits a 1:1 device program with low teacher buy-in. Which approach is most effective for building instructional technology culture?
- Mandate technology use in every lesson and evaluate teachers accordingly
- Identify and elevate teacher technology leaders as instructional coaches and create peer-learning communities (Correct answer)
- Replace resistant teachers with tech-proficient staff
- Purchase additional apps and devices to increase motivation
Correct answer: Identify and elevate teacher technology leaders as instructional coaches and create peer-learning communities
Empowering teacher leaders as coaches and fostering peer communities builds sustainable culture change through internal capacity rather than mandate.
Question 5: A student with a visual impairment needs accommodations for digital coursework. Under IDEA and Section 504, what is the principal's responsibility?
- Allow the student to opt out of technology-based assignments
- Ensure all digital content is accessible, providing screen-reader compatible materials and assistive technology as required by the student's IEP or 504 plan (Correct answer)
- Purchase specialized devices only if the parent requests them in writing
- Refer all accessibility decisions to the district special education director without campus involvement
Correct answer: Ensure all digital content is accessible, providing screen-reader compatible materials and assistive technology as required by the student's IEP or 504 plan
Principals must ensure digital content meets accessibility standards and that assistive technology specified in IEP or 504 plans is provided and operational.
Question 6: A principal wants to assess the effectiveness of a new learning management system (LMS). Which metric is most directly tied to student learning outcomes?
- Number of teacher logins per week
- Correlation between LMS-based assignment completion rates and subsequent assessment performance (Correct answer)
- Total gigabytes of content uploaded to the LMS
- Student satisfaction survey scores about the LMS interface
Correct answer: Correlation between LMS-based assignment completion rates and subsequent assessment performance
Correlating LMS engagement data with assessment outcomes directly links technology use to learning impact.
Question 7: When implementing a new edtech tool campus-wide, which change management step is most often overlooked but critical for adoption?
- Selecting the most expensive tool available
- Providing sustained, job-embedded professional development after initial rollout (Correct answer)
- Announcing the tool at a single all-staff meeting
- Allowing only volunteer teachers to use the tool initially
Correct answer: Providing sustained, job-embedded professional development after initial rollout
Sustained, job-embedded PD beyond initial training is the most commonly skipped step and the strongest predictor of lasting adoption.
TEA Technology in Education 3
The SAMR model is used to evaluate technology integration.
Which level represents a fundamental redesign of a task that would be impossible without technology?