Question 1

Students in Mr.McKay's class are generating ideas about ways to deal with the problem of limited resources for the homeless high school students in their area.They are consulting a variety of resources and experts to represent multiple perspectives on the topic.They want their conclusions to be plausible and plan to invite the mayor to give feedback about their ideas.What approach is Mr.McKay using in this setting?
A)Scaffolded learning
B)Problem-based learning
C)Discovery learning
D)Inquiry learning

Accepted Answer

Mr. McKay's approach is problem-based learning as the students are addressing a real-world problem, consulting multiple resources and experts, and planning to present their conclusions to the mayor for feedback.

Question 2

In the following classrooms,which teacher's lesson plan is most likely to result in deep learning?
A)The teacher opens the lesson with a series of discussion questions over the chapter students read in preparation for the new unit of study.
B)The teacher opens the lesson with a lecture over a complex concept in the new unit of study.
C)The teacher opens the lesson with a quiz over the content in the new unit that was assigned for homework.
D)The teacher opens the lesson with a review of prior learning that connects the learning in the new unit to material learned earlier.

Accepted Answer

Starting the lesson with a review of prior learning that connects the new content to material learned earlier helps students to create a deeper understanding of the new material by building on their previous knowledge. This approach helps students to see how the new content fits into the bigger picture and leads to long-term retention of the material.

Question 3

Ms.Angelo provided support students needed to get started on a multifaceted assignment.She circulated,answering questions,making suggestions,and encouraging students to review the instructions.On the second day,she monitored students as they continued to work on the project.Now she is certain that everyone is on the right track.At this point,what level of scaffolding is appropriate?
A)Fading support
B)Differentiation
C)Contingency support
D)Transfer of responsibility to students

Accepted Answer

The appropriate level of scaffolding at this point is the transfer of responsibility to students, as Ms. Angelo is certain that everyone is on the right track. This means that the students have developed enough skill and confidence to complete the project on their own, and so it is appropriate to begin transferring responsibility for the work onto them.

Question 4

The principal at Bragg Elementary School held a meeting in which he reminded teachers to create learning environments that represent constructivist perspectives.Which of the following environments is LEAST likely to meet the principal's expectations?
A)One teacher created a simulation in which students carry out tasks that would be performed on a space station.
B)Another teacher sets aside a time every day for students to suggest ways they might take something they learned at school and use it away from school.
C)Another teacher provides a checklist format for students to keep track of their progress and take responsibility for turning in assignments on time.
D)Another teacher puts his notes on PowerPoint and lectures from them to help students take precise notes that capture the content without misunderstandings.

Accepted Answer

The constructivist perspective emphasizes student-centered learning, where students actively construct their own knowledge by interacting with their environment. The teacher in choice D seems to rely on a traditional transmission model of learning, where students are passive receivers of information. The other choices (A, B, C) all involve creating an engaging and interactive learning environment, where students are encouraged to explore, collaborate, and take ownership of their learning.

Question 5

The students in Ms.Lemley's class are working on a project in which their collaborative groups take different positions on an issue related to the world economy.They conduct research and discuss ideas that support their positions.After each group presents its position and defense,the entire class discusses pros and cons of proposed positions.These students are involved in:
A)scaffolding.
B)social negotiation.
C)a community of practice.
D)Piaget's idea of assimilation.

Accepted Answer

The students are engaging in social negotiation, as they are working collaboratively in groups and engaging in discussions and debates about different positions on an issue. Scaffolding refers to the process of providing support and guidance to help students learn, which is not explicitly stated in this scenario. A community of practice refers to a group of people who share a common interest or profession and engage in ongoing learning together, which is also not explicitly stated in this scenario. Piaget's idea of assimilation refers to the process of incorporating new information into existing schemas, which is not mentioned in this scenario. Therefore, the best choice is social negotiation.

Question 6

According to cognitive science,which conditions are most likely to result in deep learning?
A)Corey reflected on his new thought about applying the mathematical principle he just learned and realized that he will use it again.
B)Vanessa answered the questions at the end of the chapter in her science text.
C)Brock took notes over the lecture in psychology and copied the new vocabulary words for the unit.
D)Larenda memorized the information in her notes about the conservation of energy.

Accepted Answer

Reflection and application of learned concepts leads to deeper processing and understanding, as opposed to just memorization (D) or rote learning (B and C).

Question 7

Mr.Hester uses cooperative group activities every week in his middle school language arts classes.He believes that the social interactions involved in such activities shape students' learning.Which of the following theorists most likely influenced Mr.Hester's thinking?
A)Information processing theorists
B)Piaget
C)Vygotsky
D)Bruner

Accepted Answer

Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes the importance of social interactions in shaping learning. Vygotsky believed that students learn best when they engage in cooperative activities with their peers, allowing them to share knowledge and construct new understandings together. This is consistent with Mr. Hester's belief in the value of cooperative group activities.

Question 8

Nicole excitedly describes her group activity to her mentor teacher.She explains that students will get into groups of three and take turns calling out new vocabulary words to the others in the group.They will earn points for spelling the word correctly,defining it,and using it in a sentence.What kind of group work is Nicole describing?
A)Reciprocal teaching groups
B)Inquiry group work
C)Cooperative learning
D)Small group work

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nicole excitedly describes her group activity to...

Question 9

Based on assumptions of the learning sciences,learning comes from:
A)the teacher or mentor.
B)the learner.
C)an information source.
D)a universal knowledge source.

Accepted Answer

The assumption of the learning sciences is that learning comes from the learner. This means that the learner actively engages with the information presented to them and uses their prior knowledge and experiences to construct new understanding. While a teacher or mentor, information source, and universal knowledge source can all provide support for learning, the responsibility for learning ultimately falls on the learner themselves.

Question 10

Constructivist theories of learning usually agree on two central ideas.One central idea states that social interactions are important in the process of constructing knowledge.What is the other central idea?
A)Individuals do not construct knowledge;groups construct knowledge.
B)Learners must be taught to construct knowledge.
C)The role of the teacher is important in the process of constructing knowledge.
D)Learners are active in constructing their own knowledge.

Accepted Answer

The other central idea of constructivist theories of learning is that learners are active in constructing their own knowledge. This means that learners are not passive recipients of information, but rather they actively engage with the environment and build their understanding based on their experiences and interactions.

Question 11

What types of problems do students confront in problem-based learning?
A)Highly structured problems
B)Ill-structured problems
C)Skill-building problems
D)Scientific problems

Accepted Answer

Students in problem-based learning are typically presented with open-ended, ill-structured problems that do not have a clear solution. These problems require students to apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills to find a solution. Highly structured problems (A), skill-building problems (C), and scientific problems (D) may also be used in problem-based learning, but the primary focus is on ill-structured problems.

Question 12

Ms.Moreno works with students at the upper elementary school level who are struggling to comprehend what they read in the content areas.Today,a group of her students is reading a passage in geography.After reading,one student pretends to be the teacher and asks the other three to summarize the passage.Next,the students generate questions to ask one another about the main idea.Then they clarify anything that was confusing and make predictions about what they will learn in the next section of the text.What procedure are these students using?
A)Inquiry
B)Reciprocal teaching
C)Cognitive apprenticeship
D)Embodied cognition

Accepted Answer

The students are using the procedure of reciprocal teaching, which involves summarizing, generating questions, clarifying confusing information, and making predictions. This is a common strategy used to help struggling readers comprehend content area texts.

Question 13

In science class,the teacher posed the question,"Can photosynthetic plants live without sunlight?" Students planted seeds,provided water and sunlight,and watched them grow.Now they are formulating hypotheses about the teacher's question,denying sunlight to their plants and collecting data day by day.At this point they are ready to discuss their evidence and draw conclusions.What teaching approach is being used in this classroom?
A)Problem-based learning
B)Direct teaching
C)Unassisted discovery
D)Inquiry learning

Accepted Answer

The teaching approach being used in this classroom is inquiry learning, where students are encouraged to ask questions, make observations, gather and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings. This approach emphasizes hands-on activities and critical thinking skills, allowing students to explore new concepts and develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Question 14

Tye got behind in physics after his basketball injury.He talked to his physics teacher and worked out a plan to get tutoring from the lab assistant.The tutor helped Tye catch up on understanding of concepts and also guided him through the experiments in the lab.Tye's approach to learning in this situation is an example of:
A)a cognitive apprenticeship.
B)problem-based learning.
C)reciprocal teaching.
D)inquiry learning.

Accepted Answer

Tye's approach closely aligns with the concept of cognitive apprenticeship, which involves an experienced practitioner guiding a less-experienced individual through a learning process, gradually transferring responsibility until the learner can perform the task independently. In this case, the lab assistant is acting as the experienced practitioner, guiding Tye through the experiments and helping him to understand the physics concepts.

Question 15

Teachers often assign roles for students to perform in their cooperative groups.Which role is typically responsible for explaining concepts and helping the group understand academic content?
A)Taskmaster
B)Gate keeper
C)Coach
D)Question commander

Accepted Answer

The coach is typically responsible for explaining concepts and helping the group understand academic content.

Question 16

Mr.Phillips is grouping his fifth-grade students for a cooperative learning project that will span class periods for two weeks.He has 5 groups of four plus one group of three.He balanced the number of boys and girls in the groups and made sure the students who are perceived by their peers to be different were placed in a group together.What does he need to change about his groups?
A)He has grouped them appropriately and needs to change nothing.
B)Increase the size of the groups to five or six students per group.
C)Group boys and girls separately at this age.
D)Place a student who is different in a group with a student who is tolerant.

Accepted Answer

Placing a student perceived as different in a group without support can be isolating. Integrating them with tolerant peers fosters inclusion and understanding.

Question 17

Which of the following teachers incorporates one or more of the common elements of constructivist student-centered teaching?
A)Mr.Tindal gives the students additional homework questions for extra credit when he covers complex new concepts in science.
B)Ms.Fowler writes the assignments on the board and has seatwork ready for students when they arrive each morning.
C)Mr.Franks rewards his students with extra points when they complete their spelling assignments and make a perfect score on the test.
D)Mrs.Kim's math center has containers with colored beads,building blocks,and play money for children to use when they solve tasks together.

Accepted Answer

Mrs.Kim's math center encourages hands-on, collaborative learning through the use of manipulatives like colored beads, building blocks, and play money, which are common elements of constructivist student-centered teaching. The other options do not involve student-centered teaching strategies.

Question 18

Mr.Reese conducted a concept lesson in math and assigned a challenging task.He expected some of his students to grasp the concept and complete the task with moderate effort,but he knew other students would not.He monitored their progress,stopping to ask prompting questions or drop hints to help students connect prior learning with this new concept.Mr.Reese was providing:
A)cognitive constructivism.
B)social negotiation.
C)scaffolding.
D)spiral curriculum.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Reese was providing scaffolding, which involves the teacher providing support and guidance to help students learn and complete a task. He monitored their progress and provided hints and questions to help students connect prior learning with the new concept, which is a key feature of scaffolding. Cognitive constructivism focuses on students constructing their own understanding of concepts, social negotiation involves collaborative learning among students and scaffolded learning, and spiral curriculum involves revisiting concepts at different levels of complexity.

Question 19

You are teaching a unit that includes a large amount of information the students need to understand.The material is not complex,but students should have working knowledge and be able to apply it in future lessons.Rather than lecturing to present the information,you want to use some form of cooperative learning for students to encounter the information.Which of the following strategies fits your goal in this situation?
A)Reciprocal questioning
B)Jigsaw learning
C)Reciprocal teaching
D)Structured controversy

Accepted Answer

Jigsaw learning is a cooperative learning strategy where students are divided into small groups and each group is assigned a portion of the material. Each group member becomes an expert on their assigned portion and then shares their information with their group members. This allows for students to encounter the information in a collaborative manner and also encourages higher levels of engagement and participation. Additionally, this strategy can help students develop skills in communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Question 20

Mrs.Warner believes that students need to learn to respect one another and build skills that will help them relate to others throughout life.In general,what kind of assignments will help her students gain these skills?
A)Cooperative group assignments
B)Highly structured assignments
C)Collaborative group assignments
D)Reciprocal learning assignments

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mrs.Warner believes that students need to learn...

Quiz 10: The Learning Sciences and Constructivism

In the following classrooms,which teacher's lesson plan is most likely to result in deep learning?

The principal at Bragg Elementary School held a meeting in which he reminded teachers to create learning environments that represent constructivist perspectives.Which of the following environments is LEAST likely to meet the principal's expectations?

According to cognitive science,which conditions are most likely to result in deep learning?

Mr.Hester uses cooperative group activities every week in his middle school language arts classes.He believes that the social interactions involved in such activities shape students' learning.Which of the following theorists most likely influenced Mr.Hester's thinking?

Based on assumptions of the learning sciences,learning comes from:

Constructivist theories of learning usually agree on two central ideas.One central idea states that social interactions are important in the process of constructing knowledge.What is the other central idea?

What types of problems do students confront in problem-based learning?

Teachers often assign roles for students to perform in their cooperative groups.Which role is typically responsible for explaining concepts and helping the group understand academic content?

Which of the following teachers incorporates one or more of the common elements of constructivist student-centered teaching?

Mrs.Warner believes that students need to learn to respect one another and build skills that will help them relate to others throughout life.In general,what kind of assignments will help her students gain these skills?