Praxis: Principles of Learning and
Teaching (PLT): Grades K-6 (5622)
Questions and Answers Latest Version
Graded A+
What is the term for the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can do
with help?
✔✔ Zone of Proximal Development
Who is the theorist known for emphasizing the importance of social interaction in cognitive
development?
✔✔ Lev Vygotsky
What is the process by which new information is incorporated into existing schemas, according
to Piaget?
✔✔ Assimilation
What is the term for adjusting existing schemas to fit new information?
✔✔ Accommodation
1
,According to Erikson, what is the central developmental task of early childhood?
✔✔ Developing initiative vs. guilt
According to Maslow, what must be met before a student can focus on learning?
✔✔ Basic physiological and safety needs
What is the term for a student’s belief in their ability to succeed at a task?
✔✔ Self-efficacy
What type of motivation comes from within the student rather than external rewards?
✔✔ Intrinsic motivation
What is the best way to support a student with low self-efficacy in math?
✔✔ Provide achievable tasks and offer positive feedback
What is the term for reinforcing a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus?
✔✔ Negative reinforcement
2
,Which learning theory is associated with observable changes in behavior due to conditioning?
✔✔ Behaviorism
According to cognitive learning theory, how do students learn best?
✔✔ By organizing and connecting new information to existing knowledge
What strategy involves breaking complex tasks into smaller steps with teacher support?
✔✔ Scaffolding
What is the term for mental repetition to hold information in working memory?
✔✔ Rehearsal
What is the ideal way to help students encode new information into long-term memory?
✔✔ Connect it to prior knowledge
Which type of memory stores facts and general knowledge?
✔✔ Semantic memory
3
, What is one way to reduce cognitive load during instruction?
✔✔ Present information in short, manageable chunks
What is an example of metacognition in the classroom?
✔✔ A student reflecting on which study strategy worked best
What is the term for a teacher modeling a strategy before students try it on their own?
✔✔ Guided practice
How can teachers best encourage a growth mindset in students?
✔✔ Praise effort and strategies, not just outcomes
Which theory supports learning through observation and imitation?
✔✔ Social learning theory
Who is the theorist known for operant conditioning?
✔✔ B.F. Skinner
4
Teaching (PLT): Grades K-6 (5622)
Questions and Answers Latest Version
Graded A+
What is the term for the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can do
with help?
✔✔ Zone of Proximal Development
Who is the theorist known for emphasizing the importance of social interaction in cognitive
development?
✔✔ Lev Vygotsky
What is the process by which new information is incorporated into existing schemas, according
to Piaget?
✔✔ Assimilation
What is the term for adjusting existing schemas to fit new information?
✔✔ Accommodation
1
,According to Erikson, what is the central developmental task of early childhood?
✔✔ Developing initiative vs. guilt
According to Maslow, what must be met before a student can focus on learning?
✔✔ Basic physiological and safety needs
What is the term for a student’s belief in their ability to succeed at a task?
✔✔ Self-efficacy
What type of motivation comes from within the student rather than external rewards?
✔✔ Intrinsic motivation
What is the best way to support a student with low self-efficacy in math?
✔✔ Provide achievable tasks and offer positive feedback
What is the term for reinforcing a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus?
✔✔ Negative reinforcement
2
,Which learning theory is associated with observable changes in behavior due to conditioning?
✔✔ Behaviorism
According to cognitive learning theory, how do students learn best?
✔✔ By organizing and connecting new information to existing knowledge
What strategy involves breaking complex tasks into smaller steps with teacher support?
✔✔ Scaffolding
What is the term for mental repetition to hold information in working memory?
✔✔ Rehearsal
What is the ideal way to help students encode new information into long-term memory?
✔✔ Connect it to prior knowledge
Which type of memory stores facts and general knowledge?
✔✔ Semantic memory
3
, What is one way to reduce cognitive load during instruction?
✔✔ Present information in short, manageable chunks
What is an example of metacognition in the classroom?
✔✔ A student reflecting on which study strategy worked best
What is the term for a teacher modeling a strategy before students try it on their own?
✔✔ Guided practice
How can teachers best encourage a growth mindset in students?
✔✔ Praise effort and strategies, not just outcomes
Which theory supports learning through observation and imitation?
✔✔ Social learning theory
Who is the theorist known for operant conditioning?
✔✔ B.F. Skinner
4
