NAEP 2008 - 2010 Wave 2

THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

Wave 2 Submittal for 2008

VOLUME II

Part 2 of 8

BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

FOR 2008 ASSESSMENT

Grade 8 Student Background Questions

• Science Pilot

Volume II contains:

• Part 1 of 8 - Student Grade 4: Pilot Science

• Part 2 of 8 - Student Grade 8: Pilot Science

• Part 3 of 8 - Student Grade 12: Pilot Science

Part 4 of 8 - Teacher Grade 4 (Background, Education, Training; Reading, Mathematics, Science)

• Part 5a of 8 - Teacher Reading Grade 8 (Background, Education, Training; Reading)

• Part 5b of 8 - Teacher Mathematics Grade 8 (Background, Education, Training; Mathematics)

• Part 5c of 8 - Teacher Science Grade 8 (Background, Education, Training; Science)

Part 6 of 8 - School Grade 4 (School Characteristics & Policies; Reading, Mathematics, Science, Charter School)

Part 7 of 8 - School Grade 8 (School Characteristics & Policies; Reading, Mathematics, Science, Charter School)

Part 8 of 8 - School Grade 12 (School Characteristics & Policies; Reading, Mathematics, Science)

June 29, 2007

Student Questionnaires

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Student Questionnaire

Science – Grade 8

Section 4

This section has 11 questions. Mark your answers in your booklet.

1. In your science class this year, which of the following topics have been covered? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [8]

	Yes	No	[Same at:]
a. I am not in a science class this year.	A	B	[8]	(New)
b. Life science (for example, biology, the human body or ecology)	A	B	[8]	(New)
c. Physical science (for example, energy, physics or chemistry)	A	B	[8]	(New)
d. Earth and space science (for example, geology or astronomy)	A	B	[8]	(New)
e. Engineering and technology (for example, designing solutions to problems)	A	B	[8]	(New)

2. In your science class this year, have you done hands-on activities or projects with any of the following? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [8]

	Yes	No	[Same at:]
a. Living things (for example, plants, animals, bacteria)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)
b. Electricity (for example, batteries and flash bulbs)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)
c. Chemicals (for example, mixing or dissolving sugar or salt in water)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)
d. Rocks or minerals (for example, identifying types)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)
e. Magnifying glass or microscope (for looking at small things)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)
f. Thermometer or barometer (for making measurements)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)
g. Simple machines (for example, pulleys and levers)	A	B	[8]	(NEW)

3. In your science class this year, how often do you do each of the following? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [8/12]

	Never or hardly ever	Once or twice a month	Once or twice a week	Almost every science class	[Same at:]
a. Read a science textbook	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
b. Read a book or magazine about science	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
c. Watch a movie, video or DVD about science	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
d. Watch your teacher do a science experiment or activity	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
e. Take a science test or quiz	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)

4. In your science class this year, how often do you do each of the following? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [8]

	Never or hardly ever	Once or twice a month	Once or twice a week	Almost every science class	[Same at:]
a. Identify questions that can be addressed through science experiments	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
b. Discuss events in the news that are related to what you are learning in science class	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
c. Work with other students on a science project or activity	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
d. Make graphs or charts of the results from your science project or activity	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)

5. In your science class this year, how often do you do each of the following? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [8]

	Never or hardly ever	Once or twice a month	Once or twice a week	Almost every science class	[Same at:]
a. Design a science experiment	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
b. Talk about measurements you took for your science project or activity	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
c. Talk about the results of your science project or activity	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
d. Figure out different ways to solve a science problem	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)
e. Present what you learned about science to your class	A	B	C	D	[8]	(New)

6. In your science class this year, how often have you been asked to write answers of more than one complete sentence to questions on science tests or for science assignments? (New) [8]

A Never or hardly ever

B Once or twice a month

C Once or twice a week

D Almost every science class

7. In your science class this year, are there any computers or other technological resources you can use in the classroom? (New) [8/12]

A Yes

B No

8. Please indicate how much you DISAGREE or AGREE with the following statements about science. Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [8/12]

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly agree	[Same at:]
a. Because science is interesting, I wouldn’t want to give it up.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
b. I do science-related activities in my spare time.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
c. When I do science-related activities, I sometimes get totally absorbed.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
d. I like science.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
e. Science is one of my favorite subjects.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
f. I take science only because I have to.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)
g. I take science only because it will help me in the future.	A	B	C	D	[8/12]	(New)

9. How hard was this test compared to most other tests you have taken this year in school? (VB595182) [4/8/12]

A Easier than other tests

B About as hard as other tests

C Harder than other tests

D Much harder than other tests

10. How hard did you try on this test compared to how hard you tried on most other tests you have taken this year in school? (VC034559) [4/8/12]

A Not as hard as on other tests

B About as hard as on other tests

C Harder than on other tests

D Much harder than on other tests

11. How important was it to you to do well on this test? (VB595184) [4/8/12]

A Not very important

B Somewhat important

C Important

D Very important

Student Questionnaire

Science – Grade 8

NOTE: These are questions from the 2005 Science student questionnaire being given in 2008 as part of a bilingual book.

This section has 10 questions. Mark your answers in your booklet. Fill in only one oval for each question.

1. How much do you agree with the following statements? Fill in one oval on each line. (HE002996)

	Disagree	Not sure	Agree
I like science. (HE002997)	A	B	C
I am good at science. (HE002998)	A	B	C
Science is useful for solving everyday problems. (HE003000)	A	B	C
Science is boring. (HE003003)	A	B	C

2. Which best describes the science course you are taking? (LC000166)

A I am not taking a science course this year.

B Life science (for example, biology)

C Physical science (for example, physics or chemistry)

D Earth science (for example, geology or astronomy)

E General science (several content areas of science taught separately)

F Integrated science (several content areas of science combined and taught together throughout the year)

3. When you study science in school, how often do you do each of the following? Fill in one oval on each line. (HE003014)

	Never or Hardly Ever	Once or Twice a Month	Once or Twice a Week	Almost Every Day
Read a science textbook (HE003015)	A	B	C	D
Read a book or a magazine about science (HE003016)	A	B	C	D
Discuss science in the news (HE003017)	A	B	C	D
Work with other students on a science activity or project (WO001033)	A	B	C	D
Give an oral science report (WO001034)	A	B	C	D
Prepare a written science report (WO001035)	A	B	C	D
Do hands-on activities or investigations in science (LD001451)	A	B	C	D
Talk about the measurements and results from your hands-on activities or investigations (LD001477)	A	B	C	D
Use a computer for science (WO001038)	A	B	C	D
Take a science test or quiz (WO001039)	A	B	C	D
Use library resources for science (WO001040)	A	B	C	D

4. When you study science in school, how often does your teacher do each of the following? Fill in one oval on each line. (WO001042)

	Never or Hardly Ever	Once or Twice a Month	Once or Twice a Week	Almost Every Day
Do a science demonstration (WO001044)	A	B	C	D
Use computers for science (e.g., science software, telecommunications) (WO001046)	A	B	C	D

5. Have you ever done hands-on activities or projects in school with any of the following? Fill in all ovals that apply. (HE003005)

a. Living things (for example, plants, animals, bacteria) A(HE003006)

b. Electricity (for example, batteries and flash bulbs) A(HE003007)

c. Chemicals (for example, mixing or dissolving sugar or salt in water) A(HE003008)

d. Rocks or minerals (for example, identifying types) A(HE003009)

e. Magnifying glass or microscope (for looking at small things) A(HE003010)

f. Thermometer or barometer (for making measurements) A(HE003011)

g. Simple machines (for example, pullys and levers) A(HE003012)

h. None of the above A(HE003013)

6. Do you ever do science projects in school that take a week or more? (LC000147)

A Yes

B No

7. This year in school, how often have you been asked to write long answers to questions on tests or assignments for science? (QK070712)

A Never

B Once or twice this year

C Once or twice a month

D At least once a week

8. How hard was this test compared to most other tests you have taken this year in school? (VB595182) [4/8/12]

A Easier than other tests

B About as hard as other tests

C Harder than other tests

D Much harder than other tests

9. How hard did you try on this test compared to how hard you tried on most other tests you have taken this year in school? (VC034559) [4/8/12]

A Not as hard as on other tests

B About as hard as on other tests

C Harder than on other tests

D Much harder than on other tests

10. How important was it to you to do well on this test? (VB595184) [4/8/12]

A Not very important

B Somewhat important

C Important

D Very important

Student Questionnaire: Grade 8 2

OMB Wave 2 Submission