D658 Planning Instructional Strategies for Meaningful
Learning Study Guide Key Vocabulary & Concepts (ALL
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW) 2025-2026 Western
Governors University
Vocabulary List: D658/D637
Please use this vocabulary list as you review the Course of Study for Curriculum and
Instruction. Please do not copy/paste from the COS, but provide original and
meaningful definitions of the terms and details.
Section 1: Lesson 1
Academic standards Definition: outline what students should
learn and achieve at each grade level across
various subjects
Provide an example from your state
State standards Definition: established by individual states,
define the knowledge and skills
students need at each grade level
across various subjects
National standards Definition: a cohesive set of educational
guidelines that outline what students across
the entire country
should know and be able to achieve in
various subject areas
Objectives Definition: specific, measurable goals set
by educators to guide student learning
toward achieving standards Write one to
match your standard:
Students w ill identify US States
,Scope and sequence Definition: charts the progression of
standards, specifying instruction order and
timing
Spiraling curriculum Definition: reintroduces topics with
increasing complexity at different grade levels
Condition Definition: the specific circumstances
under which the assessment takes place or
learning occurs, including any necessary
tools or resources
Give an example: Provide a blank US Map
Behavior Definition: the action or skill students are
expected to demonstrate to produce
observable and measurable outcomes
Give an example: Student correctly
identify US States
Measurable criterion Definition: establishes the benchmarks for
success, clearly defining how student
achievements will be evaluated and what
the mastery level is
Give an example With 90% accuracy
Lesson 1:
What are standards? What students need
to learn at each grade level Where do you
find yours? NYS EDU website
What is an objective? Goals set by
educators to guide students
What are the parts of an objective?
Condition, Behavior, Measurable Criterion
How are standards and objectives
different? Standards are the broad term,
while objectives bridge the students to
standards in their daily activities
What do we look for in alignment of
objectives and standards?
Section 1: Lesson 2
Direct instruction Definition: a structured, teacher-led
approach to teaching focused on clear
instructions and learning expectations Key
words: lectures, guest speakers, panels, drill
and practice, tutorials,
movies, workbooks, handouts, recordings,
assigned questions
,Indirect instruction Definition: a learner-centered approach
emphasizing higher levels of learner
involvement, such as problem- solving, case
studies, and critical thinking
Strategies: discovery, guided/unguided
inquiry, case studies, concept mapping,
composing, Socratic questioning,
problem-solving, decision-making
Experiential learning/Discovery Definition: learning strategies involving
students in active engagement through
real-world experiences, exploration, and
reflection Strategies: field trips, field
study/observations, dramatizations,
model building, work experience,
reenactment, real cases
Role Play Definition: students step into the shoes of
others, acting out scenarios that require them
to navigate through
problems and perspectives that are not
their own
Simulations Definition: recreating complex real-
world processes in a classroom setting,
allowing students to interact with the
material being covered in a direct and
hands-on manner
Independent study Definition: allows learners to progress at
their own pace and pursue interests, often
requiring self-motivation and discipline
Strategies: papers, reports, essays,
individual brainstorming or research,
correspondence, computer-assisted
instruction, distance learning
Cooperative learning Definition: a strategy that organizes
classroom activities into academic and
social learning experiences, with students
working in groups to complete tasks
Strategies: roleplaying, brainstorming,
forums; 1-3-6- investigative, laboratory, or
buzz groups; jigsaw; student team
achievement divisions (STADS); teams
games tournaments (TGTS); think-pair- share;
task-based groups
Heterogeneous groups Definition: a group composed of a variety
of ability levels
Homogenous groups Definition: a group composed of one
ability level
, Flexible grouping Definition: a teaching strategy that allows
educators to personalize
instruction to meet the unique needs of
students
Lesson 2:
What are the 5 types of strategies? Direct,
Indirect, Discovery learning, independent
study, cooperative learning
What are example activities for each? Direct
Instruction would be lectures or tutoirals,
indirect would be case studies or concept
mapping, Discovery/experiental would be
field trips and work experience, independent
study would be papers and reports, and
cooperative learning would be roleplaying or
student teams.
Which do you like best? Why? I like the
discovery the best because I feel like the
hands on approach to seeing how things
work is one of the best ways to learn how
the work.
Section 1: Lesson 3
Behaviorism Definition: a theory of learning focused
on observable behaviors and the ways
they are learned through interaction
with the environment
Key words: Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner and
John B. Watson, rewards,
punishments
Cognitivism Definition: focuses on the inner mental
activities of the mind and
understanding how people think,
understand, and remember information
Key words Charles Reigeluth, David
Merrill, and Jerome Bruner, internal
process involving memory, mind maps
and charts
Constructivism Definition: suggests learners construct
knowledge through their experiences
rather than absorbing information from
a teacher
Key words: Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner,
and Lev Vygotsky active and social
learning
Learning Study Guide Key Vocabulary & Concepts (ALL
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW) 2025-2026 Western
Governors University
Vocabulary List: D658/D637
Please use this vocabulary list as you review the Course of Study for Curriculum and
Instruction. Please do not copy/paste from the COS, but provide original and
meaningful definitions of the terms and details.
Section 1: Lesson 1
Academic standards Definition: outline what students should
learn and achieve at each grade level across
various subjects
Provide an example from your state
State standards Definition: established by individual states,
define the knowledge and skills
students need at each grade level
across various subjects
National standards Definition: a cohesive set of educational
guidelines that outline what students across
the entire country
should know and be able to achieve in
various subject areas
Objectives Definition: specific, measurable goals set
by educators to guide student learning
toward achieving standards Write one to
match your standard:
Students w ill identify US States
,Scope and sequence Definition: charts the progression of
standards, specifying instruction order and
timing
Spiraling curriculum Definition: reintroduces topics with
increasing complexity at different grade levels
Condition Definition: the specific circumstances
under which the assessment takes place or
learning occurs, including any necessary
tools or resources
Give an example: Provide a blank US Map
Behavior Definition: the action or skill students are
expected to demonstrate to produce
observable and measurable outcomes
Give an example: Student correctly
identify US States
Measurable criterion Definition: establishes the benchmarks for
success, clearly defining how student
achievements will be evaluated and what
the mastery level is
Give an example With 90% accuracy
Lesson 1:
What are standards? What students need
to learn at each grade level Where do you
find yours? NYS EDU website
What is an objective? Goals set by
educators to guide students
What are the parts of an objective?
Condition, Behavior, Measurable Criterion
How are standards and objectives
different? Standards are the broad term,
while objectives bridge the students to
standards in their daily activities
What do we look for in alignment of
objectives and standards?
Section 1: Lesson 2
Direct instruction Definition: a structured, teacher-led
approach to teaching focused on clear
instructions and learning expectations Key
words: lectures, guest speakers, panels, drill
and practice, tutorials,
movies, workbooks, handouts, recordings,
assigned questions
,Indirect instruction Definition: a learner-centered approach
emphasizing higher levels of learner
involvement, such as problem- solving, case
studies, and critical thinking
Strategies: discovery, guided/unguided
inquiry, case studies, concept mapping,
composing, Socratic questioning,
problem-solving, decision-making
Experiential learning/Discovery Definition: learning strategies involving
students in active engagement through
real-world experiences, exploration, and
reflection Strategies: field trips, field
study/observations, dramatizations,
model building, work experience,
reenactment, real cases
Role Play Definition: students step into the shoes of
others, acting out scenarios that require them
to navigate through
problems and perspectives that are not
their own
Simulations Definition: recreating complex real-
world processes in a classroom setting,
allowing students to interact with the
material being covered in a direct and
hands-on manner
Independent study Definition: allows learners to progress at
their own pace and pursue interests, often
requiring self-motivation and discipline
Strategies: papers, reports, essays,
individual brainstorming or research,
correspondence, computer-assisted
instruction, distance learning
Cooperative learning Definition: a strategy that organizes
classroom activities into academic and
social learning experiences, with students
working in groups to complete tasks
Strategies: roleplaying, brainstorming,
forums; 1-3-6- investigative, laboratory, or
buzz groups; jigsaw; student team
achievement divisions (STADS); teams
games tournaments (TGTS); think-pair- share;
task-based groups
Heterogeneous groups Definition: a group composed of a variety
of ability levels
Homogenous groups Definition: a group composed of one
ability level
, Flexible grouping Definition: a teaching strategy that allows
educators to personalize
instruction to meet the unique needs of
students
Lesson 2:
What are the 5 types of strategies? Direct,
Indirect, Discovery learning, independent
study, cooperative learning
What are example activities for each? Direct
Instruction would be lectures or tutoirals,
indirect would be case studies or concept
mapping, Discovery/experiental would be
field trips and work experience, independent
study would be papers and reports, and
cooperative learning would be roleplaying or
student teams.
Which do you like best? Why? I like the
discovery the best because I feel like the
hands on approach to seeing how things
work is one of the best ways to learn how
the work.
Section 1: Lesson 3
Behaviorism Definition: a theory of learning focused
on observable behaviors and the ways
they are learned through interaction
with the environment
Key words: Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner and
John B. Watson, rewards,
punishments
Cognitivism Definition: focuses on the inner mental
activities of the mind and
understanding how people think,
understand, and remember information
Key words Charles Reigeluth, David
Merrill, and Jerome Bruner, internal
process involving memory, mind maps
and charts
Constructivism Definition: suggests learners construct
knowledge through their experiences
rather than absorbing information from
a teacher
Key words: Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner,
and Lev Vygotsky active and social
learning
