Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Expository instruction Approach to instruction in which information is presented in more
or less the same form in which students are expected to learn it.
Guided participation A child's performance, with guidance and support, of an activity in
the adult world.
Heterogeneous ability grouping A strategy that groups students of varied ability instead of
by grade/age level.
Inductive reasoning Collecting data to draw a conclusion that may or may not be true.
Learner-centered instruction Approach to teaching in which instructional strategies are
chosen largely on the basis of students' existing abilities, predispositions, and needs.
Learner-directed instruction Approach to instruction in which students have considerable
say in the issues they address and how to address them.
, Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Learning strategy Intentional use of one or more cognitive processes for a particular
learning task.
Problem-based learning Classroom activity in which students acquire new knowledge and
skills while working on a complex problem similar to those in the outside world.
Reciprocal teaching Approach to teaching reading and listening comprehension in which
students take turns asking teacher-like questions of classmates.
Antecedents Stimuli that precede and induce behaviors.
Applied behavior analysis Systematic application of stimulus-response principles to
address a chronic behavior problem.
Attributions Personally constructed causal explanations for a success or failure.
, Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Attribution theory Theoretical perspective focusing on people's explanations (attributions)
concerning the causes of events that befall them, as well as on the behaviors that result from such
explanations.
Cognitive dissonance Feeling of mental discomfort caused by new information that
conflicts with current knowledge or beliefs
Competence Basic need to be effective in dealing with the environment.
Contingency Situation in which one event (e.g., reinforcement) happens only after another
event (e.g., a specific response) has already occurred (one event is contingent on the other's
occurrence).
Contingency contract Formal agreement between teacher and student that identifies
behaviors the student will exhibit and the reinforcers that will follow.
Expectancy-value theory Theoretical perspective proposing that human motivation is a
function of two beliefs: that one can succeed in an activity (expectancy) and that there are direct
or indirect benefits in performing the activity (value).
, Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Functional analysis Examination of inappropriate behavior and its antecedents and
consequences to determine one or more purposes (functions) that the behavior might serve for
the learner.
Goal theory Theoretical perspective that portrays human motivation as being directed
toward particular goals; the nature of these goals determines the specific ways in which people
think and behave.
Humanism Philosophical perspective in which people are seen as having tremendous
potential for psychological growth and as continually striving to fulfill that potential. Adherents
to this perspective are called humanists
Locus of causality The location—internal or external—of the cause of behavior
Mastery orientation General, fairly pervasive belief that one is capable of accomplishing
challenging tasks.
Need for arousal Ongoing need for either physical or cognitive stimulation.
Questions With Complete Solutions
Expository instruction Approach to instruction in which information is presented in more
or less the same form in which students are expected to learn it.
Guided participation A child's performance, with guidance and support, of an activity in
the adult world.
Heterogeneous ability grouping A strategy that groups students of varied ability instead of
by grade/age level.
Inductive reasoning Collecting data to draw a conclusion that may or may not be true.
Learner-centered instruction Approach to teaching in which instructional strategies are
chosen largely on the basis of students' existing abilities, predispositions, and needs.
Learner-directed instruction Approach to instruction in which students have considerable
say in the issues they address and how to address them.
, Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Learning strategy Intentional use of one or more cognitive processes for a particular
learning task.
Problem-based learning Classroom activity in which students acquire new knowledge and
skills while working on a complex problem similar to those in the outside world.
Reciprocal teaching Approach to teaching reading and listening comprehension in which
students take turns asking teacher-like questions of classmates.
Antecedents Stimuli that precede and induce behaviors.
Applied behavior analysis Systematic application of stimulus-response principles to
address a chronic behavior problem.
Attributions Personally constructed causal explanations for a success or failure.
, Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Attribution theory Theoretical perspective focusing on people's explanations (attributions)
concerning the causes of events that befall them, as well as on the behaviors that result from such
explanations.
Cognitive dissonance Feeling of mental discomfort caused by new information that
conflicts with current knowledge or beliefs
Competence Basic need to be effective in dealing with the environment.
Contingency Situation in which one event (e.g., reinforcement) happens only after another
event (e.g., a specific response) has already occurred (one event is contingent on the other's
occurrence).
Contingency contract Formal agreement between teacher and student that identifies
behaviors the student will exhibit and the reinforcers that will follow.
Expectancy-value theory Theoretical perspective proposing that human motivation is a
function of two beliefs: that one can succeed in an activity (expectancy) and that there are direct
or indirect benefits in performing the activity (value).
, Praxis PLT k-6 (ETS based questions)
Questions With Complete Solutions
Functional analysis Examination of inappropriate behavior and its antecedents and
consequences to determine one or more purposes (functions) that the behavior might serve for
the learner.
Goal theory Theoretical perspective that portrays human motivation as being directed
toward particular goals; the nature of these goals determines the specific ways in which people
think and behave.
Humanism Philosophical perspective in which people are seen as having tremendous
potential for psychological growth and as continually striving to fulfill that potential. Adherents
to this perspective are called humanists
Locus of causality The location—internal or external—of the cause of behavior
Mastery orientation General, fairly pervasive belief that one is capable of accomplishing
challenging tasks.
Need for arousal Ongoing need for either physical or cognitive stimulation.
