Test Information Guide

Field 70: Technology/Engineering
Sample Open-Response Item

The following materials contain:

Sample Test Directions for Open-Response Item Assignments

This section of the test consists of two open-response item assignments. You will be asked to prepare a written response of approximately 150to300 words for each assignment. You should use your time to plan, write, review, and edit your response for each assignment. You must write responses to both of the assignments.

For each assignment, read the topic and directions carefully before you begin to work. Think about how you will organize your response. You may use the erasable notebooklet to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. However, your score will be based solely on the version of your response that is typed in the on-screen response box.

As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

The open-response item assignments are intended to assess subject knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in this field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Be sure to write about the assigned topics. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Sample Open-Response Item

Objective 0014
Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a topic related to instruction in engineering design and manufacturing using materials and tools.

Use the information below to complete the assignment that follows.

Students in your technology and engineering class are working on a project to design a system that will automatically water plants in a classroom for up to two weeks during school vacations.

Prepare a response of approximately 150to300 words, or 1to2 pages, in which you:

Sample Strong Response to the Open-Response Item

The sample response below reflects a strong knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

After a discussion of the engineering design process and its cyclical structure, I would guide students through the process and assign specific tasks for each step. For example, after completing the first step (Defining the Problem), the next step (Research) would require the students to conduct an on-site interview with the person who normally takes care of the plants to determine the specific watering needs (amount, frequency) of each plant. Students would generate questions for the interview and record the data collected.

Due to the site-specific nature of this problem, the practice of Developing and Using Models would help the students design a solution. Before the students built a working prototype, they would be required to model their solution on-site using readily available materials. For example, if their solution involves multiple watering tubes traversing the classroom, they might hang string to model where the tubes would go. Is there room to hang them? What materials and tools are needed? If the solution involves three 10-gallon reservoirs of water, the students could model them out of boxes or milk crates. Where will they go? Will shelves or wall brackets need to be installed? If the modelling reveals problems with the design, I will guide the students back to the Generate Solutions step to revise and re-model before proceeding to prototype.

Each group would present its solution to the other students and the plant caretaker, who would be invited to provide feedback on materials used. This might send students back to the Research stage (say, to consider the different porosities of ceramic or wood or plastic pots) or back to the criteria and constraints (for example, does the budget allow for multiple electronic timers?). Cutting tools would require instruction and supervision, as would the handling of any glass components. Water will be used, so we would take precautions against flooding, slipping, and electric shock.

Scoring Rubric

Performance Characteristics

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the open-response item(s).

Performance Characteristics
Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment.
Subject Matter Knowledge Accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge.
Support Quality and relevance of supporting details.
Rationale Soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter.

Scoring Scale

The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the open-response item(s).

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved.
  • There is substantial, accurate, and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is sound; there are high-quality, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is largely achieved.
  • There is a generally accurate and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is adequate; there are some acceptable, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an adequately reasoned understanding of the topic.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved.
  • There is a limited, possibly inaccurate or inappropriate, application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is limited; there are few relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic.
1 The "1" response reflects a weak knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is not achieved.
  • There is little or no appropriate or accurate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence, if present, is weak; there are few or no relevant examples.
  • The response reflects little or no reasoning about or understanding of the topic.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.