D665: Learner Development and the
Science of Learning Study Guide
Exam with Actual Answers 2026
Updated.
Neurodevelopment - Answer How the brain grows and changes. Essential to learning new
things, improving thinking, and handling school changes. Plays a crucial role in acquiring new
knowledge, honing cognitive skills, and adapting to the challenges of formal education
Brain Development - Early Childhood - Answer Pruning begins and myelination continues
Brain Development - Newborn - Answer The brain begins a rapid period of growth
Brain Development - Prenatal - Answer Formations of the brain cells begin in the womb
Brain Development - Adolescence - Answer Brain development processes continue
Brain Development - Adulthood - Answer Brain development begins to slow down
Cognition - Answer Thinking activities such as remembering, understanding, problem-solving,
and decision-making, including how people get, use, and store information in their minds
Neurons - Answer Tiny cells in the brain that work together like an extensive communication
network
Brain Stem - Answer Part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord; oversees important
jobs like keeping the heart beating regularly, controlling breathing, managing blood flow, and
controlling automatic actions like sneezing and swallowing.
Limbic System - Answer Deep in the brain, it is an emotional control center helping handle
feelings like happiness, fear, and sadness.
Cerebellum - Answer Located at the back of the head, the "little brain" helps control
voluntary muscle movements, posture, and balance.
Cerebrum - Answer The front part of the brain responsible for controlling movement, body
temperature, and thinking skills like speaking, problem-solving, and decision-making; it also
handles sensory tasks like seeing, hearing, and feeling touch.
,Prefrontal Cortex - Answer Plays a crucial role in decision-making, impulse control, and
emotional regulation.
Changes to the Prefrontal Cortex - Elementary School (5-11) - Answer Brain grows quickly -
especially the prefrontal cortex. Learn basic skills using the cerebrum and limbic system.
Teachers can provide hands-on activities, routines, multisensory activities, positive
reinforcement, clear instruction, practice, and encouragement.
Changes to the Prefrontal Cortex - Middle School (11-14) - Answer Continues to improve.
Planning, organizing, handling emotions. Conflicts with the limbic system can cause mood
swings and impulsive actions. Teachers can provide active learning, goal setting, positive
relationships, group work, teach them about emotions, and show them how to manage
feelings.
Changes in the Prefrontal Cortex - High School (14-18) - Answer Prefrontal cortex becomes
better at making decisions and setting goals. More independent, trouble controlling impulses
and taking risks. Teachers can provide critical thinking, stress management skills, routines,
reflection, and encouragement.
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) primarily used for? - Answer Mapping
brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow and oxygenation levels associated with
neuronal activity. It provides insights into how different brain regions are activated during
various tasks and cognitive processes.
T/F The prefrontal cortex is responsible for balance, coordination, and motor control - Answer
False: Prefrontal cortex is primarily involved in higher cognitive functions such as decision-
making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
T/F Cognition encompasses processes such as memory, perception, reasoning, problem-solving,
and decision-making. - Answer True
Encoding - Answer Refers to the initial processing of information, where sensory input is
transformed into a form that the brain can store and use. Processing Information.
Storage - Answer Involves retaining this encoded information over time, while retrieval is the
process of getting stored information when needed. Retaining Information.
Feedback - Answer Plays a vital role in refining our learning strategies by providing
information about our performance, guiding future actions. Receiving Information.
, Metacognition - Answer Involves awareness and understanding of one's own thinking
processes, enabling learners to monitor and regulate their learning effectively.
Retrieval Practice - Answer Enhances long-term retention by actively recalling information
from memory.
Spacing - Answer Strategically spacing out study sessions over time leads to more robust
learning outcomes.
Interleaving - Answer Mixing different topics or skills within a single study session promotes
deeper understanding and transfer of knowledge.
Desirable Difficulty - Answer Introducing challenges or obstacles during learning to cultivate
resilience and enhance overall.
Learning Science - Answer Investigates how people learn, encompassing psychology,
neuroscience, education, and computer science to understand the cognitive processes,
behaviors, and environments that facilitate learning and knowledge acquisition.
Research-Based Practices - Answer Arise from solid empirical research or methods shown to
positively affect classroom learning.
Evidence-Based Practices - Answer Practices informed by evidence from studies conducted in
educational research and learning science.
Executive Function - Answer Set of mental skills that help individuals plan, focus their
attention, and remember instructions successfully. Includes student supports of planning,
working memory, self-regulation, organization, and flexibility.
Learning strategies the contribute to long-term retention - Answer Feedback and retrieval
practice
T/F Storage involves actively recalling information from memory - Answer False - Storage
primarily involves retaining encoded information over time.
What term describes the process of accessing stored information when needed? - Answer
Retrieval
Cramming - Answer The practice of studying intensively in a short period of time before an
exam
Science of Learning Study Guide
Exam with Actual Answers 2026
Updated.
Neurodevelopment - Answer How the brain grows and changes. Essential to learning new
things, improving thinking, and handling school changes. Plays a crucial role in acquiring new
knowledge, honing cognitive skills, and adapting to the challenges of formal education
Brain Development - Early Childhood - Answer Pruning begins and myelination continues
Brain Development - Newborn - Answer The brain begins a rapid period of growth
Brain Development - Prenatal - Answer Formations of the brain cells begin in the womb
Brain Development - Adolescence - Answer Brain development processes continue
Brain Development - Adulthood - Answer Brain development begins to slow down
Cognition - Answer Thinking activities such as remembering, understanding, problem-solving,
and decision-making, including how people get, use, and store information in their minds
Neurons - Answer Tiny cells in the brain that work together like an extensive communication
network
Brain Stem - Answer Part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord; oversees important
jobs like keeping the heart beating regularly, controlling breathing, managing blood flow, and
controlling automatic actions like sneezing and swallowing.
Limbic System - Answer Deep in the brain, it is an emotional control center helping handle
feelings like happiness, fear, and sadness.
Cerebellum - Answer Located at the back of the head, the "little brain" helps control
voluntary muscle movements, posture, and balance.
Cerebrum - Answer The front part of the brain responsible for controlling movement, body
temperature, and thinking skills like speaking, problem-solving, and decision-making; it also
handles sensory tasks like seeing, hearing, and feeling touch.
,Prefrontal Cortex - Answer Plays a crucial role in decision-making, impulse control, and
emotional regulation.
Changes to the Prefrontal Cortex - Elementary School (5-11) - Answer Brain grows quickly -
especially the prefrontal cortex. Learn basic skills using the cerebrum and limbic system.
Teachers can provide hands-on activities, routines, multisensory activities, positive
reinforcement, clear instruction, practice, and encouragement.
Changes to the Prefrontal Cortex - Middle School (11-14) - Answer Continues to improve.
Planning, organizing, handling emotions. Conflicts with the limbic system can cause mood
swings and impulsive actions. Teachers can provide active learning, goal setting, positive
relationships, group work, teach them about emotions, and show them how to manage
feelings.
Changes in the Prefrontal Cortex - High School (14-18) - Answer Prefrontal cortex becomes
better at making decisions and setting goals. More independent, trouble controlling impulses
and taking risks. Teachers can provide critical thinking, stress management skills, routines,
reflection, and encouragement.
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) primarily used for? - Answer Mapping
brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow and oxygenation levels associated with
neuronal activity. It provides insights into how different brain regions are activated during
various tasks and cognitive processes.
T/F The prefrontal cortex is responsible for balance, coordination, and motor control - Answer
False: Prefrontal cortex is primarily involved in higher cognitive functions such as decision-
making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
T/F Cognition encompasses processes such as memory, perception, reasoning, problem-solving,
and decision-making. - Answer True
Encoding - Answer Refers to the initial processing of information, where sensory input is
transformed into a form that the brain can store and use. Processing Information.
Storage - Answer Involves retaining this encoded information over time, while retrieval is the
process of getting stored information when needed. Retaining Information.
Feedback - Answer Plays a vital role in refining our learning strategies by providing
information about our performance, guiding future actions. Receiving Information.
, Metacognition - Answer Involves awareness and understanding of one's own thinking
processes, enabling learners to monitor and regulate their learning effectively.
Retrieval Practice - Answer Enhances long-term retention by actively recalling information
from memory.
Spacing - Answer Strategically spacing out study sessions over time leads to more robust
learning outcomes.
Interleaving - Answer Mixing different topics or skills within a single study session promotes
deeper understanding and transfer of knowledge.
Desirable Difficulty - Answer Introducing challenges or obstacles during learning to cultivate
resilience and enhance overall.
Learning Science - Answer Investigates how people learn, encompassing psychology,
neuroscience, education, and computer science to understand the cognitive processes,
behaviors, and environments that facilitate learning and knowledge acquisition.
Research-Based Practices - Answer Arise from solid empirical research or methods shown to
positively affect classroom learning.
Evidence-Based Practices - Answer Practices informed by evidence from studies conducted in
educational research and learning science.
Executive Function - Answer Set of mental skills that help individuals plan, focus their
attention, and remember instructions successfully. Includes student supports of planning,
working memory, self-regulation, organization, and flexibility.
Learning strategies the contribute to long-term retention - Answer Feedback and retrieval
practice
T/F Storage involves actively recalling information from memory - Answer False - Storage
primarily involves retaining encoded information over time.
What term describes the process of accessing stored information when needed? - Answer
Retrieval
Cramming - Answer The practice of studying intensively in a short period of time before an
exam
