COI COI Learning Theories & Instructional Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Scaffolding in online instruction refers to:
- Building a course website from scratch
- Providing temporary support that is gradually removed as competence grows (Correct answer)
- Requiring students to teach each other in groups
- Adding decorative design elements to course pages
Correct answer: Providing temporary support that is gradually removed as competence grows
Scaffolding provides structured support (hints, guides, worked examples) that is progressively withdrawn as the learner develops independence.
Question 2: The flipped classroom model in an online context typically involves:
- Students watching recorded content before class and using live time for application (Correct answer)
- Instructors lecturing exclusively in live sessions
- Reversing the grading scale so higher scores earn lower grades
- Having students create course content instead of the instructor
Correct answer: Students watching recorded content before class and using live time for application
In a flipped model, students engage with instructional content (videos, readings) before synchronous sessions, which are then used for higher-order application activities.
Question 3: Problem-based learning (PBL) is characterized by students:
- Completing standardized tests after each module
- Solving authentic, ill-structured problems to build content knowledge (Correct answer)
- Following a fixed script of instructor-directed steps
- Competing individually against classmates for the highest score
Correct answer: Solving authentic, ill-structured problems to build content knowledge
PBL immerses students in real-world problems that lack a single correct answer, promoting inquiry, collaboration, and self-directed learning.
Question 4: Which instructional strategy BEST supports metacognitive development in online learners?
- Providing all answers before students attempt problems
- Incorporating self-reflection journals and goal-setting activities (Correct answer)
- Using multiple-choice tests exclusively
- Eliminating peer interaction to reduce distractions
Correct answer: Incorporating self-reflection journals and goal-setting activities
Reflection journals and goal-setting require students to monitor their own thinking processes, which is the core of metacognition.
Question 5: Cognitive load theory advises online course designers to:
- Pack as much content as possible into each module
- Minimize extraneous information and chunk content to reduce mental overload (Correct answer)
- Avoid using visuals to prevent distraction
- Require students to multi-task during lessons
Correct answer: Minimize extraneous information and chunk content to reduce mental overload
Cognitive load theory warns that working memory is limited, so reducing irrelevant content and chunking material prevents overload and aids learning.
Question 6: An online instructor applies spaced repetition by:
- Covering each topic only once to avoid redundancy
- Reviewing prior content at increasing intervals throughout the course (Correct answer)
- Spacing out students alphabetically in discussion groups
- Distributing equal time to every topic regardless of difficulty
Correct answer: Reviewing prior content at increasing intervals throughout the course
Spaced repetition leverages the spacing effect, showing that revisiting material at growing intervals significantly improves long-term retention.
COI COI Learning Theories & Instructional Strategies 2
Scaffolding in online instruction refers to: