Learning Theories & Psychology Flashcards

A student who learned swimming safety last year quickly relearns updated rescue techniques. This phenomenon is best explained by:

Answer: Savings in relearning

Savings in relearning shows that prior learning reduces the time and effort needed to relearn related material.

Which of the following best describes intrinsic motivation in an instructor certification course?

Answer: Wanting to improve personal teaching skills

Intrinsic motivation comes from internal satisfaction or personal growth, not external rewards or avoidance of punishment.

According to gestalt principles, why do instructors use 'whole-part-whole' lesson structures?

Answer: People perceive and understand wholes before isolated parts

Gestalt psychology holds that learners make better sense of parts when they first understand the overall picture.

A Red Cross instructor shortens lecture segments to 10-minute blocks. This decision is based on awareness of:

Answer: Attention span limitations and cognitive fatigue

Sustained attention declines after approximately 10–15 minutes, so shorter segments combat cognitive fatigue and maintain engagement.

Which domain of learning is primarily targeted when a student practices proper mask seal technique on a training manikin?

Answer: Psychomotor domain

Physical skill execution such as mask placement involves the psychomotor domain of learning.

A new instructor uses humor to reduce tension before skill evaluations. This technique primarily targets which learner variable?

Answer: Affective filter / anxiety level

Humor lowers the affective filter, reducing anxiety so learners can engage more openly with challenging content.

Massed practice versus distributed practice research consistently shows that for motor skill retention, distributed practice is superior because:

Answer: Rest intervals allow consolidation and reduce fatigue errors

Distributed practice with rest intervals allows memory consolidation and prevents the fatigue that leads to poor skill encoding.