Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Primary Education (PK–5) (OAE 057) Practice Exam

Which of the following interventions would benefit a visual learner struggling to differentiate between DNA and RNA?

1. Ask the student to watch a documentary

2. Ask the student to build a model of DNA and label it

3. Ask the student to color a picture of DNA and RNA

4. Ask the student to compose a song about the differences

The correct answer is: Ask the student to color a picture of DNA and RNA

Choosing to have the student color a picture of DNA and RNA aligns beautifully with the needs of a visual learner. Visual learners benefit significantly from visual stimuli, and creating a colored representation allows them to better differentiate and memorize the structures of DNA and RNA. Color-coding can emphasize different parts of the molecules, helping the learner to visualize the distinctions in structure and function. While other options may offer some visual components, none are as directly beneficial as coloring. Watching a documentary provides information but does not engage the learner as actively in the process of differentiation. Building a model could be helpful, but it requires a level of spatial and kinesthetic engagement that may not be as effective as focusing solely on visual aspects, especially when differentiation is the primary goal. Composing a song might help with auditory learners but does not directly cater to visual learning needs. In summary, coloring allows for a focused, hands-on visual experience that can be particularly effective for reinforcing the differences between these two types of nucleic acids.