Learning Styles & Cognitive Development Flashcards

In learning science, 'cognitive load' refers to:

Answer: The amount of mental effort placed on working memory during a task

Cognitive load theory, developed by John Sweller, describes the burden placed on working memory; tutors reduce extraneous load by simplifying instruction and organizing information clearly.

Which study practice involves distributing learning sessions over time rather than cramming all material at once?

Answer: Spaced practice

Spaced practice (also called distributed practice) is one of the most research-supported learning strategies; spreading study sessions over days or weeks significantly improves long-term retention.

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development is most useful for tutors because it helps them:

Answer: Understand the emotional and social challenges students face at different life stages

Erikson's eight stages describe psychosocial crises (e.g., industry vs. inferiority in school-age children) that affect motivation and self-confidence, giving tutors insight into students' emotional needs.

When a student demonstrates 'learning transfer,' this means the student is able to:

Answer: Apply previously learned knowledge or skills to new and different situations

Learning transfer occurs when a student successfully uses knowledge or skills acquired in one context to solve problems or perform tasks in a new context, which is a key goal of effective tutoring.

In cognitive learning theory, 'chunking' improves memory by:

Answer: Grouping individual pieces of information into larger, meaningful units

Chunking increases effective working memory capacity by organizing individual items into familiar, meaningful groups—for example, remembering a phone number as three groups rather than ten separate digits.

Which type of long-term memory stores skills, habits, and automatic procedures, often operating without conscious awareness?

Answer: Procedural memory

Procedural memory stores how to perform tasks—such as riding a bike or solving routine math problems—and becomes automatic with practice, freeing working memory for higher-level thinking.

Research on the 'testing effect' shows that retrieval practice strengthens learning primarily because:

Answer: Actively recalling information from memory reinforces it more effectively than re-reading does

The testing effect demonstrates that the act of retrieving information from memory—rather than passively reviewing it—creates stronger, more durable memory traces, making self-quizzing a highly effective study strategy tutors should promote.