Western Governors University
YSP DE · 703D
D307 — Educational Psychology
A UNIVERSITY FOR THE REAL WORLD
WGU
EST. 1997
D307 - Educational Psychology WGU
CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W — L E A R N I N G T H E O R I E S , D E V E LO P M E N T & A SS E SS M E N T
INSTITUTION Western Governors University PROGRAM Teacher Education / Educational
Psychology
COURSE CODE D307 COURSE TITLE Educational Psychology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE D307 - Educational Psychology
WGU
TOTAL QUESTIONS 132 Questions FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question unless otherwise instructed.
▸ Select all that apply questions require choosing all correct options.
▸ Learning theories, developmental stages, cognitive development, and assessment strategies are all
testable content.
▸ Understanding theorists and their contributions is emphasized.
▸ Correct answers and rationales appear below each question for review purposes.
▸ All content reflects current educational psychology standards and WGU curriculum.
, SECTION I — EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY:
Questions 1 – 132
DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING & ASSESSMENT
1. When recess is called, two boys slip on their hoodies and, with a little concentration, zip
them up. They then run out to the playground, where they draw stick figures with
sidewalk chalk. Which physical development stage describes these students?
A. Middle childhood
B. Infancy
C. Early childhood
D. Adolescence
CORRECT ANSWER C — Early childhood
RATIONALE Early childhood (ages 2-6) is characterized by the development of fine motor skills
such as zipping clothing and drawing with chalk. Children in this stage are
developing coordination and control over their movements. Middle childhood
involves more refined skills, while adolescence involves pubertal changes and
growth spurts.
2. True or False: A second-grade student tells his teacher that he is being bullied on the
playground by some older children. The student is attempting to meet his physiological
needs.
A. True
B. False
CORRECT ANSWER B — False
RATIONALE According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, reporting bullying is an attempt to
meet safety needs (freedom from fear and threat), not physiological needs.
Physiological needs include basic biological requirements such as food, water,
shelter, and sleep. Safety needs are the next level in the hierarchy after
physiological needs are met.
,3. Which characteristic is consistent with a student in the adolescence physical development
stage?
A. Slow and steady growth
B. Stunted growth
C. Accelerated growth
D. No growth
CORRECT ANSWER C — Accelerated growth
RATIONALE Adolescence is characterized by a growth spurt (accelerated growth) due to
pubertal changes. This includes rapid increases in height, weight, and the
development of secondary sexual characteristics. Slow and steady growth is
characteristic of middle childhood. Stunted growth and no growth are not typical
developmental patterns.
4. A teacher asked children of different ages this question: "What would it be like if humans
had gills and lived underwater?" Which answer is characteristic of a child in the formal
operations stage?
A. "We would be wet all the time."
B. "I would not like to live underwater."
C. "We would have to invent waterproof paper to write on."
D. "This is a stupid question because we don't live underwater."
CORRECT ANSWER C — "We would have to invent waterproof paper to write on."
RATIONALE The formal operations stage (Piaget, age 12+) is characterized by abstract thinking
and hypothetical reasoning. A child in this stage can think about hypothetical
scenarios and consider the practical implications. The answer about inventing
waterproof paper demonstrates abstract reasoning about a hypothetical
situation.
, 5. True or False: According to Vygotsky, a person learns best through his or her own
experiences.
A. True
B. False
CORRECT ANSWER B — False
RATIONALE Vygotsky believed that learning is a social process and that learners acquire
knowledge through interaction with more knowledgeable others (teachers, peers,
adults) within their zone of proximal development (ZPD). While personal
experiences are important, Vygotsky emphasized social interaction as central to
learning.
6. Which characteristic would be consistent with a student in Piaget's pre-operational level
of cognitive development?
A. Pretending to be a cartoon character
B. Playing with a mobile
C. Solving "what-if" questions
D. Understanding that A + B = C is the same as B + A = C
CORRECT ANSWER A — Pretending to be a cartoon character
RATIONALE The pre-operational stage (ages 2-7) is characterized by symbolic thinking,
egocentrism, and imaginative play. Children at this stage engage in pretend play
and role-playing. Understanding conservation (A+B=B+A) is a concrete
operational stage skill. Solving "what-if" questions is a formal operational skill.
YSP DE · 703D
D307 — Educational Psychology
A UNIVERSITY FOR THE REAL WORLD
WGU
EST. 1997
D307 - Educational Psychology WGU
CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W — L E A R N I N G T H E O R I E S , D E V E LO P M E N T & A SS E SS M E N T
INSTITUTION Western Governors University PROGRAM Teacher Education / Educational
Psychology
COURSE CODE D307 COURSE TITLE Educational Psychology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE D307 - Educational Psychology
WGU
TOTAL QUESTIONS 132 Questions FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question unless otherwise instructed.
▸ Select all that apply questions require choosing all correct options.
▸ Learning theories, developmental stages, cognitive development, and assessment strategies are all
testable content.
▸ Understanding theorists and their contributions is emphasized.
▸ Correct answers and rationales appear below each question for review purposes.
▸ All content reflects current educational psychology standards and WGU curriculum.
, SECTION I — EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY:
Questions 1 – 132
DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING & ASSESSMENT
1. When recess is called, two boys slip on their hoodies and, with a little concentration, zip
them up. They then run out to the playground, where they draw stick figures with
sidewalk chalk. Which physical development stage describes these students?
A. Middle childhood
B. Infancy
C. Early childhood
D. Adolescence
CORRECT ANSWER C — Early childhood
RATIONALE Early childhood (ages 2-6) is characterized by the development of fine motor skills
such as zipping clothing and drawing with chalk. Children in this stage are
developing coordination and control over their movements. Middle childhood
involves more refined skills, while adolescence involves pubertal changes and
growth spurts.
2. True or False: A second-grade student tells his teacher that he is being bullied on the
playground by some older children. The student is attempting to meet his physiological
needs.
A. True
B. False
CORRECT ANSWER B — False
RATIONALE According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, reporting bullying is an attempt to
meet safety needs (freedom from fear and threat), not physiological needs.
Physiological needs include basic biological requirements such as food, water,
shelter, and sleep. Safety needs are the next level in the hierarchy after
physiological needs are met.
,3. Which characteristic is consistent with a student in the adolescence physical development
stage?
A. Slow and steady growth
B. Stunted growth
C. Accelerated growth
D. No growth
CORRECT ANSWER C — Accelerated growth
RATIONALE Adolescence is characterized by a growth spurt (accelerated growth) due to
pubertal changes. This includes rapid increases in height, weight, and the
development of secondary sexual characteristics. Slow and steady growth is
characteristic of middle childhood. Stunted growth and no growth are not typical
developmental patterns.
4. A teacher asked children of different ages this question: "What would it be like if humans
had gills and lived underwater?" Which answer is characteristic of a child in the formal
operations stage?
A. "We would be wet all the time."
B. "I would not like to live underwater."
C. "We would have to invent waterproof paper to write on."
D. "This is a stupid question because we don't live underwater."
CORRECT ANSWER C — "We would have to invent waterproof paper to write on."
RATIONALE The formal operations stage (Piaget, age 12+) is characterized by abstract thinking
and hypothetical reasoning. A child in this stage can think about hypothetical
scenarios and consider the practical implications. The answer about inventing
waterproof paper demonstrates abstract reasoning about a hypothetical
situation.
, 5. True or False: According to Vygotsky, a person learns best through his or her own
experiences.
A. True
B. False
CORRECT ANSWER B — False
RATIONALE Vygotsky believed that learning is a social process and that learners acquire
knowledge through interaction with more knowledgeable others (teachers, peers,
adults) within their zone of proximal development (ZPD). While personal
experiences are important, Vygotsky emphasized social interaction as central to
learning.
6. Which characteristic would be consistent with a student in Piaget's pre-operational level
of cognitive development?
A. Pretending to be a cartoon character
B. Playing with a mobile
C. Solving "what-if" questions
D. Understanding that A + B = C is the same as B + A = C
CORRECT ANSWER A — Pretending to be a cartoon character
RATIONALE The pre-operational stage (ages 2-7) is characterized by symbolic thinking,
egocentrism, and imaginative play. Children at this stage engage in pretend play
and role-playing. Understanding conservation (A+B=B+A) is a concrete
operational stage skill. Solving "what-if" questions is a formal operational skill.
