WGU D658 Planning Instructional Strategies for Meaningful
Learning Practice Exam | Instructional Strategies, Learning
Theories & Assessment QUESTION and answers 2026/2027
QUESTION 1
When a teacher applies Wiggins and McTighe's Backward Design
model, what is the primary focus of Stage 1?
A. Selecting digital apps and interactive software programs
B. Identifying desired results, enduring understandings, and essential
QUESTIONs
C. Designing grading rubrics and test QUESTIONs
D. Scheduling classroom seating arrangements and daily routines
Correct Answer: B. Identifying desired results, enduring
understandings, and essential QUESTIONs
Detailed Rationale: Stage 1 of Backward Design establishes what
students should know, understand, and be able to do before
assessments or learning activities are planned.
QUESTION 2
During Stage 2 of the Backward Design process, what must an educator
determine before planning daily lessons?
A. Acceptable evidence of learning through formative and summative
assessments
B. The textbook publisher's profit margins
,C. The exact color scheme for classroom bulletin boards
D. Final semester grade point averages
Correct Answer: A. Acceptable evidence of learning through formative
and summative assessments
Detailed Rationale: Stage 2 focuses on establishing how teachers will
verify student mastery and assess whether desired learning outcomes
from Stage 1 have been achieved.
QUESTION 3
What is the primary purpose of Stage 3 in the Backward Design model?
A. Administering standardized state board exams
B. Writing state curriculum frameworks
C. Planning learning experiences, instructional strategies, and daily
lessons
D. Finalizing student graduation eligibility
Correct Answer: C. Planning learning experiences, instructional
strategies, and daily lessons
Detailed Rationale: Stage 3 involves designing the actual instructional
activities, teaching methods, and practice opportunities that prepare
students to succeed on assessments established in Stage 2.
QUESTION 4
An educator uses points systems, positive reinforcement, and repetitive
drill-and-practice software to help students master basic arithmetic
facts. Which learning theory is being applied?
,A. Constructivism
B. Behaviorism
C. Connectivism
D. Humanism
Correct Answer: B. Behaviorism
Detailed Rationale: Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors
shaped through external stimuli, reinforcement schedules, and
repetitive practice drills.
QUESTION 5
A science instructor helps students connect new ecological concepts to
their existing mental frameworks (schemas) regarding local watersheds.
Which learning theory guides this approach?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitivism
C. Classical conditioning
D. Rote memorization
Correct Answer: B. Cognitivism
Detailed Rationale: Cognitivism examines internal mental processes,
information processing, schema development, and how the brain stores
and retrieves knowledge.
QUESTION 6
, Students in a social studies class work collaboratively in small groups to
investigate primary source documents and construct their own
historical explanations. Which learning theory underpins this activity?
A. Constructivism
B. Behaviorism
C. Direct instruction conditioning
D. Connectivism
Correct Answer: A. Constructivism
Detailed Rationale: Constructivism posits that learners actively
construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences and
collaborative interactions rather than absorbing information passively.
QUESTION 7
An online professional development course encourages participants to
build personal learning networks (PLNs) by connecting digital nodes,
blogs, and databases across the internet. Which learning theory is
demonstrated?
A. Behaviorism
B. Connectivism
C. Cognitivism
D. Psychoanalysis
Correct Answer: B. Connectivism
Learning Practice Exam | Instructional Strategies, Learning
Theories & Assessment QUESTION and answers 2026/2027
QUESTION 1
When a teacher applies Wiggins and McTighe's Backward Design
model, what is the primary focus of Stage 1?
A. Selecting digital apps and interactive software programs
B. Identifying desired results, enduring understandings, and essential
QUESTIONs
C. Designing grading rubrics and test QUESTIONs
D. Scheduling classroom seating arrangements and daily routines
Correct Answer: B. Identifying desired results, enduring
understandings, and essential QUESTIONs
Detailed Rationale: Stage 1 of Backward Design establishes what
students should know, understand, and be able to do before
assessments or learning activities are planned.
QUESTION 2
During Stage 2 of the Backward Design process, what must an educator
determine before planning daily lessons?
A. Acceptable evidence of learning through formative and summative
assessments
B. The textbook publisher's profit margins
,C. The exact color scheme for classroom bulletin boards
D. Final semester grade point averages
Correct Answer: A. Acceptable evidence of learning through formative
and summative assessments
Detailed Rationale: Stage 2 focuses on establishing how teachers will
verify student mastery and assess whether desired learning outcomes
from Stage 1 have been achieved.
QUESTION 3
What is the primary purpose of Stage 3 in the Backward Design model?
A. Administering standardized state board exams
B. Writing state curriculum frameworks
C. Planning learning experiences, instructional strategies, and daily
lessons
D. Finalizing student graduation eligibility
Correct Answer: C. Planning learning experiences, instructional
strategies, and daily lessons
Detailed Rationale: Stage 3 involves designing the actual instructional
activities, teaching methods, and practice opportunities that prepare
students to succeed on assessments established in Stage 2.
QUESTION 4
An educator uses points systems, positive reinforcement, and repetitive
drill-and-practice software to help students master basic arithmetic
facts. Which learning theory is being applied?
,A. Constructivism
B. Behaviorism
C. Connectivism
D. Humanism
Correct Answer: B. Behaviorism
Detailed Rationale: Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors
shaped through external stimuli, reinforcement schedules, and
repetitive practice drills.
QUESTION 5
A science instructor helps students connect new ecological concepts to
their existing mental frameworks (schemas) regarding local watersheds.
Which learning theory guides this approach?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitivism
C. Classical conditioning
D. Rote memorization
Correct Answer: B. Cognitivism
Detailed Rationale: Cognitivism examines internal mental processes,
information processing, schema development, and how the brain stores
and retrieves knowledge.
QUESTION 6
, Students in a social studies class work collaboratively in small groups to
investigate primary source documents and construct their own
historical explanations. Which learning theory underpins this activity?
A. Constructivism
B. Behaviorism
C. Direct instruction conditioning
D. Connectivism
Correct Answer: A. Constructivism
Detailed Rationale: Constructivism posits that learners actively
construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences and
collaborative interactions rather than absorbing information passively.
QUESTION 7
An online professional development course encourages participants to
build personal learning networks (PLNs) by connecting digital nodes,
blogs, and databases across the internet. Which learning theory is
demonstrated?
A. Behaviorism
B. Connectivism
C. Cognitivism
D. Psychoanalysis
Correct Answer: B. Connectivism
