PLT K-6 Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed
Albert Bandura - Answers originator of the social learning theory and the theory of self-efficacy. Later
expanded the theory to become known as social cognitive theory. Tested the willingness of children and
adults to imitate behavior observed in others, in particular, aggression.
Jerome Bruner - Answers proposed the spiral curriculum - a teaching approach where each subject or
skill area is revisited at multiple intervals at increasing levels of difficulty each time
John Dewey - Answers education and learning are social and interactive processes. school is a social
institution where social reform can and should take place. students thrive in an environment where they
are allowed to experience and interact with the curriculum. Hands-on learning and experiential
education - teacher serves as the role of facilitator and guide
Jean Piaget - Answers four development stages from birth to adulthood
sensory motor stage - Answers first stage of Piaget's cognitive development; birth to 2 years; main
activities involve sucking and grasping; must achieve object permanence and mental representations
preoperational stage - Answers Piaget's second stage of cognitive development, in which children can
think about objects beyond their immediate view but do not yet reason in logical, adult-like ways.
concrete operational stage - Answers Piaget's third stage of cognitive development; ages 7-11; children
begin to think logically but are very concrete with their thoughts. can now conserve and think logically
but only with help of practical aids.
formal operational stage - Answers Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development; age 11-onwards;
development of abstract reasoning
Lev Vygotsky - Answers zone of proximal development - the way in which the acquisition of new
knowledge is dependent on previous learning and availablity of instruction. language is fundamental to
children's cognitive growth because language provides purpose and intention so that behaviors can be
better understood
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answers theorized stages of moral development on the assumption that humans
are intrinsically motivated to explore and become competent at functioning in their environments
pre-conventional - Answers Kohlberg's first stage of moral development - judge the morality of an action
by its direct consequences. egocentric. a child with preconventional morality has not yet adopted or
internalized society's conventions regarding what is right or wrong. focuses on external consequences -
how can I avoid punishment? what's in it for me?
conventional - Answers Kohlberg's second stage of moral development - typical of adolescents and
adults - judge the morality of actions by comparing them to society's views and expectations.
, post-conventional - Answers Kohlberg's third stage of moral development - growing realization that
individuals are separate entities from society and that individual's own perspective may take precedence
over society's view. may disobey rules inconsistent with their own principles.
Bloom's taxonomy - Answers classification of learning objectives within educational objectives into three
domains - cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. learning at the higher levels is dependent on having
attained prerequisite knowledge and skills at lower levels. bottom-up - knowledge, comprehension,
application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
metacognition - Answers cognition about cognition, knowing about knowing. knowledge about when
and how to use particular strategies for learning or for problem solving
metamemory - Answers knowing about memory and mnemonic strategies
schema - Answers cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. allows
us to take shortcuts in interpreting vast amounts of information available in the environment. also
causes us to exclude important information to focus on what we need to know
expository teaching - Answers authority or expert presents information without overt interaction taking
place between expert and the learners
self-efficacy - Answers measure of one's own ability to complete tasks and reach goals. affects every
area of human endeavors.
self-regulated learning - Answers learning guided by metacognition. taking control of and evaluating
one's own learning and behavior. autonomy and control by the individual who monitors, directs, and
regulates actions toward goals of information acquisition
zone of proximal development - Answers difference between what a learner can do without help and
what they can do with help. concept introduced by Lev Vygotsky. child follows adult's example and
gradually develops the ability to do certain tasks without help
Edward Thorndike - Answers theory of mental associations called connectionism. central nervous system
as the basis of all behavior. learning took place when connections were formed between neurons and
the purpose of education was to facilitate the formation of desirable connections. pioneered the
scientific study of education and made major contributions to measurement of human abilities,
comparative psychology, and social psychology
John Watson - Answers psychological school of behaviorism. scientific study of observable behavior
Abraham Maslow - Answers hierarchy of needs that provides a model for understanding the need for
human relations in the classroom. needs lower on the pyramid must be met before an individual will
consider higher-level needs.
physiological - Answers bottom of Maslow's pyramid of needs - breathing, food, water, sex, sleep,
homeostasis, excretion
Albert Bandura - Answers originator of the social learning theory and the theory of self-efficacy. Later
expanded the theory to become known as social cognitive theory. Tested the willingness of children and
adults to imitate behavior observed in others, in particular, aggression.
Jerome Bruner - Answers proposed the spiral curriculum - a teaching approach where each subject or
skill area is revisited at multiple intervals at increasing levels of difficulty each time
John Dewey - Answers education and learning are social and interactive processes. school is a social
institution where social reform can and should take place. students thrive in an environment where they
are allowed to experience and interact with the curriculum. Hands-on learning and experiential
education - teacher serves as the role of facilitator and guide
Jean Piaget - Answers four development stages from birth to adulthood
sensory motor stage - Answers first stage of Piaget's cognitive development; birth to 2 years; main
activities involve sucking and grasping; must achieve object permanence and mental representations
preoperational stage - Answers Piaget's second stage of cognitive development, in which children can
think about objects beyond their immediate view but do not yet reason in logical, adult-like ways.
concrete operational stage - Answers Piaget's third stage of cognitive development; ages 7-11; children
begin to think logically but are very concrete with their thoughts. can now conserve and think logically
but only with help of practical aids.
formal operational stage - Answers Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development; age 11-onwards;
development of abstract reasoning
Lev Vygotsky - Answers zone of proximal development - the way in which the acquisition of new
knowledge is dependent on previous learning and availablity of instruction. language is fundamental to
children's cognitive growth because language provides purpose and intention so that behaviors can be
better understood
Lawrence Kohlberg - Answers theorized stages of moral development on the assumption that humans
are intrinsically motivated to explore and become competent at functioning in their environments
pre-conventional - Answers Kohlberg's first stage of moral development - judge the morality of an action
by its direct consequences. egocentric. a child with preconventional morality has not yet adopted or
internalized society's conventions regarding what is right or wrong. focuses on external consequences -
how can I avoid punishment? what's in it for me?
conventional - Answers Kohlberg's second stage of moral development - typical of adolescents and
adults - judge the morality of actions by comparing them to society's views and expectations.
, post-conventional - Answers Kohlberg's third stage of moral development - growing realization that
individuals are separate entities from society and that individual's own perspective may take precedence
over society's view. may disobey rules inconsistent with their own principles.
Bloom's taxonomy - Answers classification of learning objectives within educational objectives into three
domains - cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. learning at the higher levels is dependent on having
attained prerequisite knowledge and skills at lower levels. bottom-up - knowledge, comprehension,
application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation
metacognition - Answers cognition about cognition, knowing about knowing. knowledge about when
and how to use particular strategies for learning or for problem solving
metamemory - Answers knowing about memory and mnemonic strategies
schema - Answers cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. allows
us to take shortcuts in interpreting vast amounts of information available in the environment. also
causes us to exclude important information to focus on what we need to know
expository teaching - Answers authority or expert presents information without overt interaction taking
place between expert and the learners
self-efficacy - Answers measure of one's own ability to complete tasks and reach goals. affects every
area of human endeavors.
self-regulated learning - Answers learning guided by metacognition. taking control of and evaluating
one's own learning and behavior. autonomy and control by the individual who monitors, directs, and
regulates actions toward goals of information acquisition
zone of proximal development - Answers difference between what a learner can do without help and
what they can do with help. concept introduced by Lev Vygotsky. child follows adult's example and
gradually develops the ability to do certain tasks without help
Edward Thorndike - Answers theory of mental associations called connectionism. central nervous system
as the basis of all behavior. learning took place when connections were formed between neurons and
the purpose of education was to facilitate the formation of desirable connections. pioneered the
scientific study of education and made major contributions to measurement of human abilities,
comparative psychology, and social psychology
John Watson - Answers psychological school of behaviorism. scientific study of observable behavior
Abraham Maslow - Answers hierarchy of needs that provides a model for understanding the need for
human relations in the classroom. needs lower on the pyramid must be met before an individual will
consider higher-level needs.
physiological - Answers bottom of Maslow's pyramid of needs - breathing, food, water, sex, sleep,
homeostasis, excretion
