CSET Preliminary Educational Technology Practice Test

Subtest I: basic operations, concepts and issues (40 multiple-choice questions)

• 0001 Basic Principles of Computer Hardware and Software Operation and Care Kinds of hardware and software; startup and shutdown; storage devices and removable media; input and output devices; viruses and their prevention; files that are local, remote, shared or in varied formats; network connection and logon.
• 0002 Basic Troubleshooting for Computers and Related Peripheral Devices Finding hardware, software and connection problems; when to turn to technical support; the right terms for describing a fault.
• 0003 Acceptable Use Policies and Legal and Ethical Issues Acceptable use policies and the laws behind them; rights and duties in internet and email use; intellectual property, piracy and plagiarism; licensing; copyright in the classroom; citing electronic sources; network security and shared resources.
• 0004 Privacy, Security, and Safety Issues Privacy of students, guardians and staff; shielding students from inappropriate material; consent before names, photographs or student work are published; safety in chat, messaging and video; health and computer use.

Subtest I: productivity applications (30 multiple-choice questions)

• 0005 Managing Records and Information Data management and analysis software; spreadsheets and databases for grades, attendance and assessment records.
• 0006 Communicating Through Multiple Forms of Media Choosing software for reports, tests, newsletters and web pages; how a web page is made and edited; documents that combine text with links, charts, graphics, video and sound.
• 0007 Communicating Using Computer-Based Collaborative Tools Email: composing, forwarding, replying, address books, attachments and archives; bulletin boards, mailing lists, threaded discussions, chat and conferencing; online etiquette.
• 0008 Using Electronic Research Tools and Applying Information Literacy Skills State and national reference databases such as ERIC; subscription sources; searching, downloading and storing; judging the authenticity, reliability and bias of information and data.

Subtest II: teaching and learning applications (40 multiple-choice questions)

• 0001 Using Current Best Practices and Research Findings on the Effective Use of Technology to Improve Teaching and Learning Reading research on technology in teaching; lessons built on best practice; decisions from data; planning with the technology at hand, from one computer to many; managing technology activities; information literacy; technology for special needs; assessing work done with technology.
• 0002 Understanding Criteria for Evaluating and Selecting Software and Electronic Learning Media Fit with content standards and teaching strategy; reading and vocabulary level; students' needs; quality of information; clear objectives; organization; user interface; hardware and system requirements; district policy; built-in assessment.

The two subtests

• Subtest I (test code 133): 70 multiple-choice questions and 2 short constructed-response questions. 2 hours and 15 minutes.
• Subtest II (test code 134): 40 multiple-choice questions and 3 constructed-response questions, 2 short and 1 extended. 2 hours.
• In each subtest multiple-choice questions are 70% of the score and constructed-response questions 30%. Passing score: 220 per subtest. Computer-based test only.

Subtest I: productivity applications, short response

• A teacher keeps grades in a spreadsheet. Describe two features of the program that would help the teacher report each student's progress to families.
• Describe how to send one message with an attachment to a group of parents so that no parent sees another parent's address.

Subtest II: short response

• A classroom has one computer and thirty students. Describe how you would plan a lesson that gives every student a turn with it, and how the rest of the class is kept at work.
• Name three criteria for choosing learning software and explain how you would check a program against each of them.

Subtest II: extended response

• Design a lesson in a subject you teach that uses technology to reach students with different needs. Name the technology, the content standard it serves, how students will show what they learned, and how you will assess the work.
• A district is deciding whether to buy a reading program. Explain how you would use research findings and the data on your own students to advise it.