WGU D758 Considerations for Instructional Planning for
Learners: Exam 1 - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Erikson's stage most relevant to elementary students (about ages 6-12) is:
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Identity vs. role confusion
C. Industry vs. inferiority
D. Intimacy vs. isolation
Correct Answer: C. Industry vs. inferiority
Rationale: In the industry vs. inferiority stage, children build competence through school tasks and
compare themselves with peers, so successful experiences matter. Identity vs. role confusion is the
adolescent stage, and trust vs. mistrust belongs to infancy.
2. Metacognition refers to:
A. Memorizing facts quickly
B. Physical development
C. Thinking about one's own thinking and learning
D. Learning in groups
Correct Answer: C. Thinking about one's own thinking and learning
Rationale: Metacognition includes planning how to approach a task, monitoring understanding and
evaluating strategies. Teachers build it through think-alouds, self-questioning and reflection prompts.
3. Information processing theory compares learning to:
A. A blank slate filled by experience only
B. Instincts that need no teaching
C. A computer that encodes, stores and retrieves information
D. A purely social process
Correct Answer: C. A computer that encodes, stores and retrieves information
Rationale: The model includes sensory memory, working (short-term) memory and long-term memory.
Strategies such as rehearsal, elaboration and retrieval practice move information into long-term storage.
,4. Motivation tends to increase when learning tasks are:
A. Extremely easy
B. Impossible to complete
C. Unrelated to students' interests
D. Moderately challenging and relevant to students' lives
Correct Answer: D. Moderately challenging and relevant to students' lives
Rationale: Tasks in the 'sweet spot' of challenge build competence, and relevance increases value.
Tasks that are too easy bore students, and impossible tasks lead to frustration and avoidance.
5. Research on 'learning styles' (matching instruction to visual, auditory or kinesthetic
preferences) shows that:
A. Matching instruction to a preferred style does not reliably improve learning
B. It is the most effective strategy
C. It is required by IDEA
D. It doubles achievement
Correct Answer: A. Matching instruction to a preferred style does not reliably improve
learning
Rationale: Controlled studies have not found that teaching to a student's preferred style improves
outcomes. Using multiple representations for everyone, as UDL suggests, is better supported.
6. Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) means instruction is:
A. The same for all ages
B. Based only on grade-level standards
C. Determined by test scores alone
D. Matched to children's age, individual characteristics and cultural context
Correct Answer: D. Matched to children's age, individual characteristics and cultural context
Rationale: NAEYC defines DAP as considering commonalities in development, individual differences and
social-cultural context. It guides planning, especially in early childhood.
,7. Self-efficacy is:
A. General self-esteem
B. A measure of IQ
C. A type of learning disability
D. A person's belief in their capability to succeed at a specific task
Correct Answer: D. A person's belief in their capability to succeed at a specific task
Rationale: Bandura defined self-efficacy as task-specific confidence, and it predicts effort and
persistence. It is built mainly through mastery experiences, so planning for early success matters for
struggling learners.
8. Peer-assisted learning is supported by research because it:
A. Replaces teacher instruction entirely
B. Increases engagement and practice opportunities while benefiting both tutor and tutee
C. Only benefits high achievers
D. Increases off-task behavior always
Correct Answer: B. Increases engagement and practice opportunities while benefiting both
tutor and tutee
Rationale: Structured peer tutoring such as PALS improves achievement for diverse learners, including
students with disabilities. Explaining content also deepens the tutor's understanding.
9. High expectations paired with strong support is sometimes called being a:
A. 'Permissive teacher'
B. 'Authoritarian teacher'
C. 'Disengaged teacher'
D. 'Warm demander'
Correct Answer: D. 'Warm demander'
Rationale: Warm demanders (Kleinfeld; Delpit; Hammond) combine care with insistence on rigorous
effort. This stance is a hallmark of culturally responsive teaching.
, 10. Universal free school meals and breakfast programs support learning by:
A. Increasing behavior problems
B. Replacing instruction
C. Only helping wealthy students
D. Reducing hunger and stigma, improving attention and attendance
Correct Answer: D. Reducing hunger and stigma, improving attention and attendance
Rationale: Students who are fed can concentrate better, and universal programs remove the stigma of
means-tested meals. Hunger impairs attention and memory, so feeding students is an instructional
support, not just a welfare service.
11. Rural students may face challenges including:
A. Excess resources
B. No transportation issues
C. Large class sizes always
D. Limited access to advanced courses, specialists and broadband
Correct Answer: D. Limited access to advanced courses, specialists and broadband
Rationale: Rural schools may have fewer specialized services, so planning may use technology and
community resources to expand opportunities. The distractors describe advantages rural schools
generally do not have; distance, staffing shortages and connectivity gaps are the real planning
considerations.
12. Religious diversity in schools requires teachers to:
A. Promote one religion
B. Respect students' beliefs and practices while maintaining neutrality
C. Prohibit discussion of religion in history
D. Ignore religious accommodations
Correct Answer: B. Respect students' beliefs and practices while maintaining neutrality
Rationale: Public schools may teach about religion academically but not promote it. Reasonable
accommodations, such as for dietary practices or holidays, show respect.
Learners: Exam 1 - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Erikson's stage most relevant to elementary students (about ages 6-12) is:
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Identity vs. role confusion
C. Industry vs. inferiority
D. Intimacy vs. isolation
Correct Answer: C. Industry vs. inferiority
Rationale: In the industry vs. inferiority stage, children build competence through school tasks and
compare themselves with peers, so successful experiences matter. Identity vs. role confusion is the
adolescent stage, and trust vs. mistrust belongs to infancy.
2. Metacognition refers to:
A. Memorizing facts quickly
B. Physical development
C. Thinking about one's own thinking and learning
D. Learning in groups
Correct Answer: C. Thinking about one's own thinking and learning
Rationale: Metacognition includes planning how to approach a task, monitoring understanding and
evaluating strategies. Teachers build it through think-alouds, self-questioning and reflection prompts.
3. Information processing theory compares learning to:
A. A blank slate filled by experience only
B. Instincts that need no teaching
C. A computer that encodes, stores and retrieves information
D. A purely social process
Correct Answer: C. A computer that encodes, stores and retrieves information
Rationale: The model includes sensory memory, working (short-term) memory and long-term memory.
Strategies such as rehearsal, elaboration and retrieval practice move information into long-term storage.
,4. Motivation tends to increase when learning tasks are:
A. Extremely easy
B. Impossible to complete
C. Unrelated to students' interests
D. Moderately challenging and relevant to students' lives
Correct Answer: D. Moderately challenging and relevant to students' lives
Rationale: Tasks in the 'sweet spot' of challenge build competence, and relevance increases value.
Tasks that are too easy bore students, and impossible tasks lead to frustration and avoidance.
5. Research on 'learning styles' (matching instruction to visual, auditory or kinesthetic
preferences) shows that:
A. Matching instruction to a preferred style does not reliably improve learning
B. It is the most effective strategy
C. It is required by IDEA
D. It doubles achievement
Correct Answer: A. Matching instruction to a preferred style does not reliably improve
learning
Rationale: Controlled studies have not found that teaching to a student's preferred style improves
outcomes. Using multiple representations for everyone, as UDL suggests, is better supported.
6. Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) means instruction is:
A. The same for all ages
B. Based only on grade-level standards
C. Determined by test scores alone
D. Matched to children's age, individual characteristics and cultural context
Correct Answer: D. Matched to children's age, individual characteristics and cultural context
Rationale: NAEYC defines DAP as considering commonalities in development, individual differences and
social-cultural context. It guides planning, especially in early childhood.
,7. Self-efficacy is:
A. General self-esteem
B. A measure of IQ
C. A type of learning disability
D. A person's belief in their capability to succeed at a specific task
Correct Answer: D. A person's belief in their capability to succeed at a specific task
Rationale: Bandura defined self-efficacy as task-specific confidence, and it predicts effort and
persistence. It is built mainly through mastery experiences, so planning for early success matters for
struggling learners.
8. Peer-assisted learning is supported by research because it:
A. Replaces teacher instruction entirely
B. Increases engagement and practice opportunities while benefiting both tutor and tutee
C. Only benefits high achievers
D. Increases off-task behavior always
Correct Answer: B. Increases engagement and practice opportunities while benefiting both
tutor and tutee
Rationale: Structured peer tutoring such as PALS improves achievement for diverse learners, including
students with disabilities. Explaining content also deepens the tutor's understanding.
9. High expectations paired with strong support is sometimes called being a:
A. 'Permissive teacher'
B. 'Authoritarian teacher'
C. 'Disengaged teacher'
D. 'Warm demander'
Correct Answer: D. 'Warm demander'
Rationale: Warm demanders (Kleinfeld; Delpit; Hammond) combine care with insistence on rigorous
effort. This stance is a hallmark of culturally responsive teaching.
, 10. Universal free school meals and breakfast programs support learning by:
A. Increasing behavior problems
B. Replacing instruction
C. Only helping wealthy students
D. Reducing hunger and stigma, improving attention and attendance
Correct Answer: D. Reducing hunger and stigma, improving attention and attendance
Rationale: Students who are fed can concentrate better, and universal programs remove the stigma of
means-tested meals. Hunger impairs attention and memory, so feeding students is an instructional
support, not just a welfare service.
11. Rural students may face challenges including:
A. Excess resources
B. No transportation issues
C. Large class sizes always
D. Limited access to advanced courses, specialists and broadband
Correct Answer: D. Limited access to advanced courses, specialists and broadband
Rationale: Rural schools may have fewer specialized services, so planning may use technology and
community resources to expand opportunities. The distractors describe advantages rural schools
generally do not have; distance, staffing shortages and connectivity gaps are the real planning
considerations.
12. Religious diversity in schools requires teachers to:
A. Promote one religion
B. Respect students' beliefs and practices while maintaining neutrality
C. Prohibit discussion of religion in history
D. Ignore religious accommodations
Correct Answer: B. Respect students' beliefs and practices while maintaining neutrality
Rationale: Public schools may teach about religion academically but not promote it. Reasonable
accommodations, such as for dietary practices or holidays, show respect.
