JROTC Inspection Questions LET 3

Guidelines for Inspectors

Army JROTC Inspectors need to accurately determine the proficiency level of JROTC Units and cadets. These questions, recommended for Cadets who are working in LET 3, will help inspectors look beyond recitation of memorized information to examine learning results that show how cadets understand and can apply what they are learning. Previously, inspectors have tended to evaluate knowledge by asking a series of closed-ended questions. Although it takes less time and is easier to analyze results, this questioning technique elicits either a "yes" or "no" response, or a "regurgitation of facts" that shows a certain level of memorization, but does not illustrate an understanding of how to apply the knowledge to accomplish a task, solve a problem, make a decision, or create a product. By asking open-ended questions that require cadets to formulate a thoughtful response, inspectors will be better able to determine if the JROTC program is actually teaching the JROTC curriculum in ways that result in value-added learning that helps cadets develop and apply the targeted knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The usefulness of performance assessment for evaluating "hands-on" tasks has been recognized by the military services for many years. It requires the learner to perform the task to designated standards that are clear both to those who are assessing and those who are being assessed. When inspectors evaluate hands-on skills, they should use an approach that requires cadets to show what they can do. By using a scoring guide to evaluate cadet performance of hands-on skills and responses to questions, inspectors will increase the validity (assess the what the program intends to teach), reliability (be consistent in "scoring performance" - cadet to cadet and rater to rater) and fairness (valid, reliable, and no "guess what the inspector wants to hear" for the cadets). In addition, scoring guides provide excellent tools for giving feedback to the cadets so that assessment becomes the continual improvement part of the learning experience. Each inspection assessment will include a question or performance and a scoring guide. The scoring guide will spell out criteria specific to the question or task, along with general criteria that reflect the communication core ability. These questions are designed to be posed in the classroom or in an interview setting.

Guidelines for Assessing Cadet Responses

Ask the cadet the main question to present the big picture. Use the prompt questions to break the question into smaller bites, give the cadet direction, and encourage the cadet to expand on the answer. Total Possible Points = 10 [6 possible points awarded for cadet's command of content/skill; 4 possible points awarded for effectiveness of communication. Communication points are to be awarded independently of content/skill points. A cadet who is unable to answer the content portion or perform the skill may still receive the points for effective communication and deportment if warranted. Likewise, a cadet who does not exhibit effective communication skills may still receive points for the content/skill portion of the question if warranted. Full points= Award for commendable performance - Cadet responded to question, meeting or surpassing the criterion without error. Partial points = Award for acceptable performance - Cadet answered the question without major error but may have made one or two minor errors or omissions and/or needs to polish communication skills. 0 = Cadet's response is did not meet the criterion.

Unit ---1 - Citizenship in Action

1.

How does the battalion staff execute the Battalion Commander's guidance?
Prompt Questions a. b. c. What are the three types of staffs in a battalion, and what is the purpose of each? If you were the XO (Executive Officer), what would your role be in each of the staffs? How does a battalion staff create plans and orders based on the commander's estimate of the situation?

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response _____1. (1 point) Cadet listed the coordinating staff, special staff and personal staff. (Content Notes: The cadet explained that the coordinating staff produces plans and orders, the special staff provides guidance to the commander on specific technical and professional topics, and the personal staff provides the commander will information on personnel and legal issues.) _____2. (2 points) Cadet explains how the XO (Executive Officer) coordinates and monitors the actions of the special and coordinating staffs, conducts meetings, keeps the commander informed, reviews plans and orders, and supervises the execution of orders. _____3. (3 points) Cadet explains or shows a chart of the nine-step sequence of command and staff actions. (Content Notes: The nine steps are: 1) Mission; 2) Information available; 3) Planning Guidance; 4) Staff Estimates; 5) Commander's Estimate and Decision; 6) Preparation of Plans or Orders; 7) Approval; 8) Publication of Plans or Orders; and 9) Command and Staff supervision.] _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this Question

Unit ---2 - Leadership Theory and Application

1.

As a leader, how can you impact a win-win solution for a given problem?
Prompt Questions a. b. c. Why are decision-making and problem-solving skills essential leadership skills? (1 point) What are three common JROTC approaches or models for decision-making and problem-solving? (2 points) What problem solving strategies have you used as a leader? What particular strategies helped to negotiate a win-win solution?

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response _____1. (1 point) Cadet explains that leaders need to think quickly and be able to decipher a problem and its impact in making a decision. [Content Notes: Leaders are expected to get a job done and make high quality decisions that are accepted by others in the group and executed in a timely manner. When cadet leaders delay or avoid making a decision they creative hesitancy and a possible lack of confidence and confusion develops within a unit. This can cause a task to fail.] _____2. (2 points) Cadet identifies the features of the seven-step problem-solving process, the four-step process and the planning wheel process. [Content Notes: The seven-step model is the most common and includes: Identify the problem; Gather information; Develop courses of action;

JROTC Inspection Questions LET 3 As of: 8/24/2006

Analyze and compare courses of action; Make a decision; Make a plan; Implement the plan. The second model is the four-step model and includes: Define the objective; Study the situation; List and examine possible courses of action; Select the course of action. The third model is the planning wheel and includes: Consider the objective; Determine the resources needed; Consider alternatives; Make a decision; Write it down; Carry out the plan; Evaluate.] _____3. (3 points) Cadet shows or explains evidence of leadership using a decision-making or problemsolving model. Cadet references may include sharing the completed assessment tasks on negotiating a win-win solution or other documented uses in leadership of problem-solving and decision-making models.] _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used a respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this question

Unit ---3 - Foundations for Success

1.

What strategies do you use to clearly communicate with others through writing and speaking?
Prompt Questions a. b. c. Describe at least two principles to apply when speaking and writing. (1 point) Tell me how you prepare to write or speak for a specific purpose. (2 points) Appraise your ability to write and speak. What areas need improvement? (3 points)

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response _____1. (1 point) Cadet described at least two principles to apply when speaking and writing. [Content Notes: Principles of writing are to write for the audience, ensure accuracy, keep writing brief and to the point, check for clarity, organize for coherence, and unify around a main idea. When speaking to a group focus on the audience, organize thoughts in a logical order, use visual aids, use transitions to make connections, practice, establish eye contact, articulate, use good posture, establish an acceptable volume and speaking rate.] _____2. (2 points) Cadet shared how s/he prepares to write or speak for a specific purpose. [Content Notes: Someone who is preparing to write or speak should complete the following tasks sequentially: analyze the purpose and audience, conduct research and gather information, organize information, draft the document, and edit before publishing a document or practicing a speech.] _____3. (3 points) Cadet appraised his/her ability to write and speak and described areas that need improvement. _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used a respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this question

2.

What is your personal financial plan?

Prompt Questions

JROTC Inspection Questions LET 3 As of: 8/24/2006

a. b. c.

Tell me about at least two of your personal financial goals. (1 point) What is your plan to meet your financial goals? (2 points) What actions have you taken to work towards meeting your financial goals? (3 points)

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response _____1. (1 point) Cadet described at least two personal financial goals. [Content Notes: Cadet should classify goals as short-term (approximately 1-3 months), intermediate-term (3-12 months), or long-term (more than 1 year). Goals might involve establishing a specific amount of money needed for a specific purchase, reducing expenditures, increasing income, or saving and/or earning a specific amount of money over a period of time.] _____2. (2 points) Cadet described his/her goals as SMART goals and explained specific progress made towards accomplishing the goals. [Content Notes: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time bound. A SMART goal example: Save $15 a week for the next three months to pay for airfare and travel expenses to ___. Actions taken included any of the following: establishing a personal month/quarter/annual budget, comparing actual expenditures with planned spending, routinely setting aside a specific amount of money for a specific purpose, making financial decisions after weighing pros and cons or tradeoffs, applying restraint in spending habits, and/or investing in income investments (savings, money market, certificate of deposit, bonds) or growth investments (stocks, collectibles). ] _____3. (3 points) Cadet has evidence of a record keeping system in place. [Content Note: The record keeping system will include any or all of the following actions: writing financial goals, preparing a written budget, tracking actual transactions on paper or with software (Excel, Quicken, QuickBooks), comparing documented expenditures and receipts with a written budget, organizing a filing system for financial records (bank statements, pay stubs, receipts of major purchases), and/or designing a spreadsheet to track the value of investments.] _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used a respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this question

3.

What strategies for resolving conflict will you consider implementing in given situations?
Prompt Questions a. b. c. Explain what might influence or aggravate conflict. (1 point) What are some strategies or techniques for resolving conflict? (2 points) Describe either a real or mock setting where you were the mediator in a conflict situation. What strategies worked and what would you do differently? (3 points)

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response _____1. (1 point) Cadet describes what contributes to a conflicting situation. [Content Note: Cadet describes how stereotyping, prejudice, bias, bigotry, extreme points of view, and culture can impact a situation and cause conflict.] _____2. (2 points) Cadet explains how to intervene appropriately and safely to clarify points of disagreement and agreement. [Content Note: Cadet may also explain strategies for reducing conflict within a diverse population. Cadet describes intervention guidelines including calling for professional help if a situation appears dangerous.] _____3. (3 points) Cadet describes how to play the mediator within a conflict situation. [Content Note: Cadet describe the steps of the mediation process with introduction of the process, setting the rules, establishing each side of the situation, exploration of options and commitment to 4 JROTC Inspection Questions LET 3 As of: 8/24/2006

agreement. Cadet reflects on the outcome of the mediation and what he or she might do differently next time.] _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used a respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this question

4.

What plans have you considered or implemented toward attaining future personal goals?
Prompt Questions a. b. c. How can you use a decision-making process to help meet personal goals such as career goals? (1 point) How can you tell if a personal goal is an effective goal? (2 points) Show evidence of career planning. Where are you in the goal-setting and achieving process? What improvements can you make to your plans? (3 points)

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response _____1. (1 point) Cadet describes what an effective decision-making process is. [Content Notes: Features and benefits of decision-making processes. Goals are broken into short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. Decision-making process will help focus on what is important; will be logical and make sense; will allow one to think of both the facts and emotional consequences of actions; will not require and unreasonable amount of research. Cadet can use the FINDS model for making decisions.] _____2. (2 points) Cadet explains the S-P-A-M criteria for goal writing. [Content Notes: Written goal statements are declarations of a desired outcome. The S-P-A-M criteria includes a "specific" plan of action, a "positive" statement such as "I will" instead of "I want to", an "achievable" goal is within the power to reach it, and a "measurable" goal is defined in terms of results that are measurable, or actions that can be deserved. S-P-A-M can be applied to all goal categories -short-term, mid-term, and long-term.] _____3. (3 points) Cadet shows evidence of investigating career options and setting short-term, mid-term, and long-term personal goals. [Content Notes: References to completed products such as career development portfolios, including a Military Career Reflection and the College Action Plan allow cadets resources to pull from as evidence of goal planning and personal decision-making skills.] _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used a respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this question

5.

Describe your current involvement in a service learning project.

Prompt Questions a. b. c. What are the goals of your service learning project? (1 point) How does your service learning project apply to the JROTC curriculum? (2 points) How are you evaluating the effects of your service learning project on the community? What products have you created or used to show how the project is being evaluated? (3 points)

Criteria for Scoring Cadet Response

JROTC Inspection Questions LET 3 As of: 8/24/2006

_____1. (1 point) Cadet explained the purpose and goals of the service learning project [Content Notes: Answers should include that service learning enhances learning and allows cadets to gain experience while providing a service to their community.] _____2. (2 points) Cadet described the lessons and/or competencies from the JROTC curriculum and how they are being applied in the service learning project. _____3. (3 points) Cadet explained how the service learning project is being evaluated. [Content Notes: Cadets should be able to show some of the following products: a Learning Log with activities performed; a four-quadrant model showing an evaluation of the project; reflection comments showing how the project has affected the cadet's life; and reports or presentations showing the results of the project. _____4. (2 points) Cadet looked you in the eye and used respectful tone, language, and demeanor. Cadet asked questions of clarification and/or checked for accuracy if there was a need. _____5. (2 points) Cadet answered with confidence, using standard English grammar and speaking clearly so that you could understand. _____ Total points for this Question

JROTC Inspection Questions LET 3 As of: 8/24/2006