1. Comprehensive
Exam Tips

2. What have you
heard/know about
comprehensive exams?

3. Two parts to
Comprehensive Exams:
(1) Writtens & (2) Orals

4. Educational Research &
your Concentration
questions are handled
separately.

5. In your
responses …

6. Use headings and advance
organizers that reflect the
comprehensive exam
questions and the elements
or subparts of the
comprehensive exam
question.

7. Advance organizers are
critical to guide the reader.

8. Data from two instruments were used: (1) the
Survey of Computer Use and (2) the School
Observation Measure. Descriptions of the
instruments are explicated in the following
sections.
Grant, M.M. & Mims, C. (2009).
Technology integration in early childhood and primary classrooms In S. Taylor and S. Blake
(Eds.) Technology for early childhood education and socialization: Developmental
applications and methodologies (pp. 162-176). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.

9. This paper presents (1) the development process
in which how the online assessment site has been
implemented with advanced Web technologies
including streaming video techniques, (2) the
formative evaluation results in which how the site
could be improved, and (3) the implications for
instructional designers.
Cheon, J.P. & Grant, M.M. (2009).
Active listening: Web-based assessment tool for communication and active listening skill
development. TechTrends, 53(6), 24-32.

10. There are two types of virtual conferencing: asynchronous
conferencing and synchronous conferencing. Asynchronous
conferencing is both time and location independent
(Greenberg, 2004; Wilkinson & Hemby, 2000). It provides
learners with flexibility of accessing large amounts of learning
materials. In addition, collaboration and feedback can be
implemented by email or discussion board. In contrast,
synchronous conferencing makes distance among instructor
and learners variable, but time is still crucial (Coventry, 1994).
Synchronous conferencing can support spontaneous
interaction and immediate feedback involving audio and text,
as well as video (Pittman, 2003; Wilkinson & Hemby, 2000).
Grant, M. M., & Cheon, J.-p. (2007). The value of using synchronous conferencing for
instruction and students. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 6(3). Available online at
http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/viewarticle.cfm?volID=6&IssueID=21&Ar ticleID=109.

11. Use the questions/tasks
stated in the
comprehensive exam
questions as the
organizational structure
for your responses.

12. Use immaculate APA
formatting.

13. Operationalize important
terms and variables.

14. Lowman (1991) defined abilities as "what one is able or
potentially able to do" (p. 11). We used this more general term
in order to distinguish from IQ and general intelligence (g)
(Spearman, 1904) as well as to reflect other possible
taxonomies and classifications of abilities (see e.g., Lowman,
1991). Also of interest was how the computer-mediated
artifacts produced in project-based learning reflect the learner
and his or her knowledge. So technology in this study was
operationlized as computer-based technologies—specifically
hardware, software, and networks. Moreover, computer-
mediated learning artifacts was used to describe both analog
and digital products the students fashioned with the aid of
computers, such as research papers and museum displays.
Grant, M.M., & Branch, R.M. (2005). Project-based learning in a middle school: Tracing
abilities through the artifacts of learning. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(1),
65-98.

15. Adaptive instruction means creating a learning
environment and finding instructional approaches
and techniques that conform to meet students’
individual needs (Park & Lee, 2003). Adaptive
Web-based learning environments (A-WBLEs)
are one form of adaptive instruction that tailor
individual differences in the online environment
(Inan & Grant, 2004, 2005).
Inan, F.A. & Grant, M.M. (2007).
Individualized Web-based instruction: Strategies and guidelines for instructional designers. In
T. Kidd (Ed.) Handbook of research on instructional systems & technology. Hershey, PA: Idea
Group Publishing.

16. Questions?
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