Question 1

As a high school music teacher plays a recording of Ferde Grofé's symphony Grand Canyon Suite for his class, he asks his students to visualize scenes that Grofé tried to capture with music: a sunrise over the Grand Canyon, a burro ride down a winding trail, a thunderstorm, and so on.From a Vygotskian perspective, this lesson could best be described as:

Accepted Answer

The lesson in this scenario is a mediated learning experience because the teacher is using the recording of Grand Canyon Suite as a tool to facilitate the students' learning. The teacher is asking the students to visualize scenes from the music, which requires them to use their imaginations and think abstractly about the music. This type of learning experience is consistent with Vygotsky's theory of mediated learning, which emphasizes the importance of using tools and resources to help students learn and develop their cognitive abilities.

Question 2

Which one of the following examples most clearly illustrates a cognitive apprenticeship?

Accepted Answer

The teacher in choice A models his thought process and encourages students to engage in similar cognitive activities, which is a key aspect of cognitive apprenticeship.

Question 3

Three of the following aspects of language development typically appear during the elementary school years or even earlier.Which one are we not likely to see until students are in junior high or high school?

Accepted Answer

The ability to detect subtle sarcasm requires a higher level of social and emotional understanding, which typically develops in the adolescent years. The other aspects listed (adherence to social conventions, correct pronunciation, and playful use of words) are generally evident during the elementary school years or earlier.

Question 4

Several parents who are making costumes for an elementary school play ask the young cast members to assist them with such tasks as cutting fabric, pinning pieces together, and sewing simple hems.Using the language of Vygotskian theorists, we can say that the parents are

Accepted Answer

Engaging the students in guided participation refers to the idea that learners become more competent by participating in activities alongside more skilled individuals, who guide them through the task. In this case, the parents are involving the young cast members in the process of making the costumes, which is likely to enhance their skills in cutting, pinning, and sewing.

Question 5

Most children in the early elementary grades think that being a "good listener" means:

Accepted Answer

Being a "good listener" in the context of early elementary grades is often interpreted as sitting quietly and looking at the speaker. This behavior demonstrates attentiveness and respect for the speaker, which is why it is commonly emphasized to young children as a key aspect of listening well.

Question 6

Which one of the following is the best example of dynamic assessment?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic assessment involves observing how a student's thinking and problem-solving abilities change over time in response to feedback and hints provided by the assessor. Choice D clearly exemplifies this by describing how Mr. Warren observes and records Erica's changes in logical thinking and response to hints during an experiment with a pendulum. Choices A, B, and C do not involve this kind of ongoing observation and feedback.

Question 7

Which one of the following is the best example of a mediated learning experience?

Accepted Answer

A mediated learning experience involves a teacher or mediator structuring and scaffolding learning experiences for students. In choice D, Ms. Robinson is guiding the students through a hands-on experience where she is highlighting and pointing out important differences. She is acting as a mediator by providing additional information and guidance, which is a hallmark of a mediated learning experience. Choices A, B, and C do not necessarily involve this type of direct guidance and teaching.

Question 8

Which one of the following examples illustrates a cognitive apprenticeship in mathematics?

Accepted Answer

A cognitive apprenticeship involves a master teacher modeling effective ways of thinking and problem-solving strategies to an apprentice. In option B, Mr. Johnson is working with a student to solve a challenging word problem, modeling effective thinking and problem-solving strategies, which is an example of cognitive apprenticeship. Option A involves repetition and practice but does not involve modeling effective strategies, so it is not a cognitive apprenticeship. Option C involves boosting self-confidence but does not involve modeling effective problem-solving strategies, so it is not a cognitive apprenticeship. Option D involves individualization of learning but does not involve modeling effective problem-solving strategies, so it is not a cognitive apprenticeship.

Question 9

If you were a high school English teacher who wanted your students to acquire knowledge of especially advanced syntactical sentence structures, your best course of action would be to:

Accepted Answer

The most effective way for students to acquire knowledge of advanced syntactical sentence structures is for the teacher to explicitly teach these structures. Waiting for them to emerge naturally will not ensure that all students will acquire these structures, and teaching vocabulary or a completely different language will not necessarily enhance syntactical knowledge.

Question 10

Three of the following teachers are using scaffolding to help their students learn.Which one is not necessarily providing scaffolding?

Accepted Answer

Taking students on a field trip may be a valuable learning experience, but it is not necessarily an example of scaffolding. Scaffolding involves providing support and guidance to help students gradually develop their understanding and skills. A field trip may provide new information and opportunities for hands-on learning, but it does not necessarily provide the same kind of targeted support and guidance as the other examples.

Question 11

Given what we know about children's language development, which one of the following problems is typical for the grade level?

Accepted Answer

At the first-grade level, mispronunciations of certain sounds are common as children are still mastering their language skills. The error in pronouncing rabbit as "wabbit" is typical for this age range.

Question 12

Which one of the following statements most accurately describes Lev Vygotsky's view of how cognitive development occurs?

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky believed that cognitive development occurs through social interaction and working on challenging tasks with guidance from more knowledgeable individuals. He called this the zone of proximal development, where children are able to perform tasks with assistance that they would not be able to do alone. Vygotsky also emphasized the role of language in cognitive development, as language allows for communication and the sharing of ideas between individuals.

Question 13

Ms.Killian and her fourth graders have been growing sunflowers under various conditions-they have grown sunflowers in different kinds of soil, with different amounts of water, and in varying degrees of sunlight.Below are four statements that Ms.Killian makes related to the sunflowers.Which one is most consistent with the idea of a cognitive apprenticeship?

Accepted Answer

The statement "This sunflower is taller than that sunflower over there.Let's consider what the growing conditions for the two flowers have been and try to figure out what might have led to the difference we see" encourages students to think critically about the growth conditions and use their observations to make informed decisions, which is consistent with the idea of cognitive apprenticeship.

Question 14

From a Vygotskian perspective, scaffolding serves what purpose in instruction?

Accepted Answer

According to Vygotsky, scaffolding involves the support provided by an instructor or more knowledgeable peer to help a student perform a task that is just beyond his or her actual developmental level. This support allows the student to achieve success and move to higher levels of proficiency. Therefore, the purpose of scaffolding is to support students as they perform difficult tasks.

Question 15

Three of the following statements are consistent with Vygotsky's views about the kinds of diversity we are likely to see in students.Which statement is not consistent with Vygotsky's theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Three of the following statements are consistent...

Question 16

Considering what research tells us regarding children's language development, we should expect elementary school children to have the greatest difficulty understanding the meaning of which one of the following words?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that conjunctions like "although" and other complex sentence structures may be more difficult for elementary school children to understand and comprehend compared to more concrete words like "swim," "vehicle," or "somersault."

Question 17

Which strategy is most likely to be effective in promoting students' vocabulary development?

Accepted Answer

Teaching students the meanings of words related to topics they are studying is the most effective strategy for promoting students' vocabulary development. By learning words in the context of the subjects they are studying, students are more likely to remember the meanings of the words and be able to use them in a meaningful way. The other options are ineffective or even counterproductive. Allowing students to make up their own meanings for words may lead to confusion and incorrect usage. Encouraging literal interpretations of common sayings does not necessarily promote vocabulary development. Allowing students to use words incorrectly can reinforce incorrect usage and hinder future language development.

Question 18

Three of the following are definitely examples of scaffolding.Identify the situation in which no scaffolding is described.

Accepted Answer

In situation A, there is no mention of any scaffolding. The teacher simply gives students a task and sends them off to complete it without providing any additional support or guidance. In contrast, situations B, C, and D all involve a gradual reduction of support as students become more proficient in a particular skill or task, which is a hallmark of scaffolding.

Question 19

Many theorists believe that people have an innate predisposition to learn language.Three of the following provide sources of evidence that these theorists use to support their belief.Which one is not used to support an inherited predisposition to learn language?

Accepted Answer

Options A, C, and D are all used as evidence to support the belief that there is an innate predisposition to learn language. Option B, on the other hand, simply describes a phenomenon that occurs as children age, but does not necessarily speak to whether this is due to an inherited predisposition or other factors such as education or environmental influence.

Question 20

In Vygotsky's view, opportunities to engage in pretend play

Accepted Answer

Pretend play allows children to practice adult behaviors by imitating roles and scenarios they observe in the adult world, which is a key aspect of Vygotsky's theory on cognitive development.

Quiz 2: Cognitive and Linguistic Development