WGU D664 – LEARNERS AND LEARNING SCIENCE
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT//LATEST UPDATE 2026
involves activities that engage the senses—touch, sight, hearing, smell,
and taste—helping children explore and understand the world around
them - ANSWER -Sensory Exploration
This stage involves a child's journey toward independence and decision-
making - ANSWER -autonomy versus shame/doubt stage
Infants learn to rely on caregivers for their basic needs, fostering trust—
while inconsistency in meeting these needs can lead to mistrust,
suspicion, and anxiety about their environment. - ANSWER -trust
versus mistrust stage
the understanding that something still exists even though it cannot be
seen or heard - ANSWER -object permanence
Infants (0-2 years old) explore through senses and actions, developing
an understanding of object permanence and laying cognitive
foundations - ANSWER -sensorimotor stage
The transition from the sensorimotor stage to the preoperational stage
is marked by mastery of object permanence, recognition of themselves
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as separate from their environment, and the realization that they can
affect the objects and people
around them. - ANSWER -Cognitive Transition
Children know the world through movement and their senses. They
learn through grasping, sucking, looking,
and listening. - ANSWER -sensorimotor
At about 18 months old, a child transitions from the crisis of trust-
mistrust to the crisis
of autonomy-shame/doubt. This transition is marked by the desire to
accomplish daily tasks by themselves. When children feel safe trying
tasks on their own, even though they may not yet be capable, they
move into the next stage. - ANSWER -Social Transition to Autonomy -
shame vs doubt
Supporting children's independence without overly controlling or
criticizing allows them to develop feelings of accomplishment
and responsibility. - ANSWER -Autonomy
Somewhere around age three, a child transitions
from autonomy to initiative. This transition is marked by the desire to
assert control over the environment and by increased social, physical,
and cognitive exploration. - ANSWER -Autonomy to initiative stage
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Erikson's PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY
TRUST vs.
MISTRUST • Provide love, care,
and food • Need comfort and
safety - ANSWER -Birth - 12 months
AUTONOMY vS.
SHAME & DOUBT
• "Me Do" stage • Need for
independence • Insist on doing things
on their own
• Dress myself
• Feed myself - ANSWER -Ages 1-3 years, Eriksons psychological
development theory
INITIATIVE vS.
GUILT
• Exploration • Trying new things on
their own • Asking lots of
questions - ANSWER -Ages 3-6, eriksons psychological development