Question 1

Cordell is trying to remember the various rocks he has been studying in his earth science class (granite, sandstone, limestone, obsidian, marble, etc.).He finally decides it would be easiest if he studied them as three groups: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.Considering research regarding this strategy, Cordell should:

Accepted Answer

Organizing information into categories is a well-known memory strategy that enhances recall by creating meaningful associations among items. This method, known as chunking, simplifies complex information into more manageable and related groups, making it easier to remember.

Question 2

Which one of the following statements best describes how learners often acquire procedural knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Procedural knowledge often starts as declarative knowledge, which is explicit information that a person can articulate and recall. Through practice and experience, this declarative knowledge can become procedural knowledge, which is more about knowing how to do things and can be performed without conscious thought. This transformation from declarative to procedural knowledge allows for the automation of certain skills, making them more efficient and less reliant on active memory.

Question 3

Three of these teachers will probably promote meaningful learning in their students.Which one is unlikely to do so?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Harris's approach of encouraging repetitive practice of cursive writing, while potentially beneficial for skill acquisition, is less likely to promote meaningful learning compared to the other options that connect new knowledge to existing knowledge or encourage personal interpretation.

Question 4

When you are studying for a test, you may often try to find interrelationships among the new pieces of information you are learning.Cognitive psychologists call this process:

Accepted Answer

Organization is the cognitive process of structuring and arranging information so that it can be understood or remembered more easily. When studying for a test, finding interrelationships among new pieces of information helps in organizing the material, making it easier to recall later.

Question 5

To help herself learn the early explorers of the New World, Jessica makes a chart that lists the Spanish explorers together, the Portuguese explorers together, the French explorers together, and so on.Which one of the following processes is Jessica most clearly demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Jessica is demonstrating organization by categorizing the explorers based on their nationalities, which helps in structuring the information in a coherent manner.

Question 6

Lucas is struggling to remember the Capital of Alberta on his geography test.Three of the following are factors that are likely to affect retrieval.Which one is not?

Accepted Answer

Using multiple mnemonics is not a factor that negatively affects retrieval; instead, it can aid in memory recall by providing various ways to remember information. The other options (A, C, D) are strategies that enhance retrieval by reinforcing memory through frequent use, employing cues, and making connections to other pieces of knowledge.

Question 7

Three of the following are examples of mnemonics.Which one is not a mnemonic?

Accepted Answer

Mnemonics are memory aids that help in the recall of information, often through association or visualization techniques. Choices B, C, and D are examples of mnemonics because they involve creating associations or mental images to remember information. Choice A is not a mnemonic; it describes a method of practicing parts of a task separately, which is a learning strategy rather than a mnemonic technique.

Question 8

Tyler learns that Christopher Columbus's first voyage across the Atlantic was financed by Queen Isabella of Spain.He thinks to himself, "She probably thought she would make a profit on her investment." When he stops to consider the queen's motives, Tyler is demonstrating which one of the following processes?

Accepted Answer

Elaboration involves adding to or enriching information in some way to make it more memorable. When Tyler considers the queen's motives, he is engaging in elaboration by thinking beyond the basic fact of who financed the voyage to why she might have done so, thus deepening his understanding of the historical event.

Question 9

Which of the following allows students to retrieve information most effortlessly?

Accepted Answer

Automaticity refers to the ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low-level details required, allowing it to become an automatic response pattern or habit. It is the most effortless way to retrieve information because it does not require conscious thought.

Question 10

As Jane reads about Louis Riel's resistance against the government, she pictures him as he must have looked, with dark hair and a full mustache, standing tall and proud as he defended himself at his trial.Considering research findings regarding the effectiveness of visual imagery, we can predict that Jane will:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that visual imagery can enhance memory retention, making it more likely that Jane will remember the information about Louis Riel better than if she hadn't visualized it.

Question 11

These four teachers claim to be practicing principles from cognitive psychology.Based on the following information, which one is not actually doing so?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Sullivan's approach is more aligned with behavioral psychology, focusing on reinforcement (praise for skillful passing), rather than cognitive psychology principles which involve mental processes like memory, learning strategies, or understanding.

Question 12

If you wanted to help your students learn something by using a mnemonic device, which one of the following sentences would you use?

Accepted Answer

C) "My very earthy mother just sat upon new petunias" is a mnemonic device used to remember the order of the planets in the solar system from the sun, representing Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. This method uses the first letter of each word to correspond with the planets, making it easier to recall their sequence.

Question 13

To remember the three American states that come together at a single point (Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah), Marcia remembers "CANU" (pronounced like "canoe").Marcia's technique illustrates the use of:

Accepted Answer

Marcia's technique of using "CANU" to remember the states is an example of a superimposed meaningful structure, where a meaningful word or phrase is created to help recall information.

Question 14

Mr.Gaydos wants to teach his students how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.Three of the following strategies should help his students learn the maneuver more effectively.Given what we know about teaching procedural knowledge, which strategy is least likely to be effective in helping students learn the procedure correctly?

Accepted Answer

Strategy C, which involves describing Dr. Heimlich's medical background and motivation for developing the procedure, is least likely to be effective in helping students learn the procedure correctly. This is because it focuses on historical and motivational context rather than on the procedural steps or techniques necessary to perform the Heimlich maneuver effectively.

Question 15

Norman is studying Chinese and needs to remember that the word for "exit" is chu, so he remembers the sentence, "The choo-choo train is exiting the station." Norman's technique illustrates the use of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Norman is studying Chinese and needs to...

Question 16

Three of the following mathematics teachers are using techniques that should help their students remember information.Which one is using a relatively ineffective technique?

Accepted Answer

Ms. Davenport's technique of asking students to memorize definitions is relatively ineffective compared to the other methods that involve hands-on learning, real-life application, and conceptual understanding, which are known to enhance memory retention.

Question 17

Which one of the following teaching practices is most likely to encourage students to elaborate as they study new material?

Accepted Answer

Asking students how they might apply a principle encourages them to think more deeply about the material, make connections to real-world situations, and elaborate on their understanding, which enhances learning and retention.

Question 18

Three of the following teachers are using strategies that should help students learn information effectively.Which one is not necessarily promoting effective cognitive processing?

Accepted Answer

Repeating definitions of new vocabulary words out loud (choice B) does not necessarily promote deep cognitive processing or understanding. It might help with memorization in the short term, but it doesn't ensure that students are engaging with the material in a way that promotes meaningful learning or the ability to apply knowledge in new contexts. The other options (A, C, D) involve strategies that encourage students to connect new information to existing knowledge, focus their attention, or understand the material in a deeper way, which are all conducive to effective learning.

Question 19

Ms.Hubert entered her fourth grade class in the division math competition where students are expected to solve complex math problems on the spot.Which of the following strategies should Ms.Hubert avoid?

Accepted Answer

Drill and practice exercises, while useful for memorization, can be less effective for complex problem-solving because they often focus on repetition rather than understanding concepts deeply. Constructing retrieval cues and reviewing number facts often are strategies that help with deeper understanding and recall, which is more beneficial for solving complex math problems on the spot.

Question 20

Mnemonics probably facilitate learning and memory in a number of ways.Which one of the following is not a potential advantage of mnemonics?

Accepted Answer

Mnemonics aid in learning and memory primarily by organizing information and providing retrieval cues, making new information relatable to what is already known. They do not expand the capacity of working memory, but rather make more efficient use of it.

Quiz 6: Learning and Cognitive Processes