Learning Theories & Psychology Flashcards
7 cards from real TEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Learning Theories & Psychology flashcards as text
A principal notices that students in one classroom consistently outperform peers when the teacher uses think-alouds and models metacognitive strategies. Which theorist's work BEST explains this outcome?
Answer: Lev Vygotsky
Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction and expert modeling in developing higher-order thinking and metacognition.
According to Piaget's concrete operational stage, which instructional approach is MOST developmentally appropriate for third graders?
Answer: Using manipulatives and hands-on classification tasks
Concrete operational learners (ages 7–11) understand logic best through tangible, hands-on experiences rather than abstract symbols.
A campus leader wants to reduce student anxiety around high-stakes testing. Which principle from arousal theory (Yerkes-Dodson) should guide the intervention?
Answer: Performance peaks at moderate arousal levels, not extremely high or low
The Yerkes-Dodson law shows an inverted-U relationship: performance is best at moderate arousal and declines at extremes.
Which concept from Attribution Theory is MOST relevant when a principal coaches a teacher whose students attribute failures to lack of ability rather than effort?
Answer: Learned helplessness
When students consistently attribute failure to fixed ability, they develop learned helplessness, losing motivation to try.
A principal is reviewing curriculum alignment. Which learning theory most directly supports the practice of sequencing content from simple to complex, ensuring prerequisite skills are mastered first?
Answer: Behaviorism/Gagné's conditions of learning
Gagné's hierarchical learning model specifies that simpler prerequisite skills must be mastered before more complex ones can be taught.
How does the concept of 'transfer of learning' guide a principal when designing professional development that teachers will actually apply in classrooms?
Answer: Near transfer is promoted by using realistic classroom scenarios in PD
Near transfer improves when training contexts closely resemble the application context, making realistic classroom scenarios essential in PD design.
A school leader observes that students in a bilingual program develop stronger metalinguistic awareness than monolingual peers. Which psychological concept BEST explains this advantage?
Answer: Cognitive flexibility from managing two language systems
Managing two languages builds cognitive flexibility and executive function, which enhances metalinguistic awareness and problem-solving.