©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/7/2024 12:35 PM
Praxis: Early Childhood PLT 5621 Study
Guide
Behaviorism - answer✔learning through direct interaction with the environment;motivation is
often the result of drives, internal states caused by a lack of something necessary for optimal
functioning. Consequences of behavior (reinforcement, punishment) are effective only to the
extent that they either increase or decrease a learner's drive state (Skinner, Watson, Thorndike)
social learning (cognitive) theory - answer✔learning from observing one another; modeling;
environmental stimuli affect behavior; importance of self-efficacy; human behavior is typically
goal directed (Bandura)
self-efficacy - answer✔extent to which a person believes they can successfully do a task
self-regulation - answer✔taking charge of and directing own actions
information processing theory - answer✔focuses on the cognitive processes involved in
learning, memory, and performance; human thinking is similar to how a computer works;
constructivism - answer✔people create knowledge through observations and experience;
people combine much of what they learn into integrated bodies of knowledge and beliefs
(schemas); by working together, two or more people can often gain better understandings than
anyone could gain alone (social constructivism)
sociocultural theory - answer✔emphasize that the social, cultural, and historical contexts in
which children grow up have profound influences on thinking, learning, and effective
instructional practice; Because of their varying environments, historical circumstances, and
needs, different cultures have developed somewhat different ways of thinking, learning, and
teaching
classical conditioning (Pavlov) - answer✔when automatic and reflexive responses to stimuli
become associated with new stimuli that previously had no effect (When a conditioned
stimulus (e.g., a buzzer regularly paired with the puff of air) evokes a conditioned response
(e.g., blinking), learning has occurred)
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/7/2024 12:35 PM
operant conditioning (Skinner) - answer✔occurs as a result of the consequences of behavior;
Behaviors that are reinforced are strengthened — they are repeated. Reinforcers can be
positive (e.g., presentation of a reward) or negative (e.g., removal of an aversive stimulus).
Behaviors that are punished are extinguished; punishments, too can be positive (e.g.,
presentation of an aversive stimulus) or negative (removal of a positive stimulus)
sensory register (short term memory) - answer✔Component of memory that holds incoming
information in an unanalyzed form for a very brief time (perhaps one to two seconds)
working memory - answer✔Component of memory that holds and actively thinks about and
processes a limited amount of information
long term memory - answer✔Component of memory that holds knowledge and skills for a
relatively long time
semantic knowledge - answer✔Knowledge of the meanings of words and word combinations
procedural knowledge - answer✔Knowledge concerning how to do something (e.g., a skill)
how to move info into long term memory - answer✔Rehearsal
Meaningful learning
Elaboration
Organization
Visual imagery
Mnemonics
accommodation - answer✔required when people must incorporate a new experience by
modifying an old scheme or forming a new scheme (The period of flux when individuals are
attempting to adjust prior schemes with new experiences that do not fit into their existing
schemes is known as disequilibrium, and the process of moving from disequilibrium to a new
state of learning is known as equilibration)
assimilation - answer✔when people deal with a new experience in a manner that is consistent
with a present scheme
scheme - answer✔organized group of similar actions or thoughts that are used repeatedly in
response to the environment
Piaget's stages of cognitive development - answer✔sensorimotor (0-2)
11/7/2024 12:35 PM
Praxis: Early Childhood PLT 5621 Study
Guide
Behaviorism - answer✔learning through direct interaction with the environment;motivation is
often the result of drives, internal states caused by a lack of something necessary for optimal
functioning. Consequences of behavior (reinforcement, punishment) are effective only to the
extent that they either increase or decrease a learner's drive state (Skinner, Watson, Thorndike)
social learning (cognitive) theory - answer✔learning from observing one another; modeling;
environmental stimuli affect behavior; importance of self-efficacy; human behavior is typically
goal directed (Bandura)
self-efficacy - answer✔extent to which a person believes they can successfully do a task
self-regulation - answer✔taking charge of and directing own actions
information processing theory - answer✔focuses on the cognitive processes involved in
learning, memory, and performance; human thinking is similar to how a computer works;
constructivism - answer✔people create knowledge through observations and experience;
people combine much of what they learn into integrated bodies of knowledge and beliefs
(schemas); by working together, two or more people can often gain better understandings than
anyone could gain alone (social constructivism)
sociocultural theory - answer✔emphasize that the social, cultural, and historical contexts in
which children grow up have profound influences on thinking, learning, and effective
instructional practice; Because of their varying environments, historical circumstances, and
needs, different cultures have developed somewhat different ways of thinking, learning, and
teaching
classical conditioning (Pavlov) - answer✔when automatic and reflexive responses to stimuli
become associated with new stimuli that previously had no effect (When a conditioned
stimulus (e.g., a buzzer regularly paired with the puff of air) evokes a conditioned response
(e.g., blinking), learning has occurred)
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/7/2024 12:35 PM
operant conditioning (Skinner) - answer✔occurs as a result of the consequences of behavior;
Behaviors that are reinforced are strengthened — they are repeated. Reinforcers can be
positive (e.g., presentation of a reward) or negative (e.g., removal of an aversive stimulus).
Behaviors that are punished are extinguished; punishments, too can be positive (e.g.,
presentation of an aversive stimulus) or negative (removal of a positive stimulus)
sensory register (short term memory) - answer✔Component of memory that holds incoming
information in an unanalyzed form for a very brief time (perhaps one to two seconds)
working memory - answer✔Component of memory that holds and actively thinks about and
processes a limited amount of information
long term memory - answer✔Component of memory that holds knowledge and skills for a
relatively long time
semantic knowledge - answer✔Knowledge of the meanings of words and word combinations
procedural knowledge - answer✔Knowledge concerning how to do something (e.g., a skill)
how to move info into long term memory - answer✔Rehearsal
Meaningful learning
Elaboration
Organization
Visual imagery
Mnemonics
accommodation - answer✔required when people must incorporate a new experience by
modifying an old scheme or forming a new scheme (The period of flux when individuals are
attempting to adjust prior schemes with new experiences that do not fit into their existing
schemes is known as disequilibrium, and the process of moving from disequilibrium to a new
state of learning is known as equilibration)
assimilation - answer✔when people deal with a new experience in a manner that is consistent
with a present scheme
scheme - answer✔organized group of similar actions or thoughts that are used repeatedly in
response to the environment
Piaget's stages of cognitive development - answer✔sensorimotor (0-2)
