Educational Psychology Principles Flashcards

Which instructional strategy is most aligned with constructivist learning theory when onboarding new grant administrators?

Answer: Using problem-based learning with real grant scenarios

Constructivism holds that learners build knowledge through active experience and reflection, making problem-based scenarios ideal.

In Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction, which event immediately follows 'gaining attention' at the start of a lesson?

Answer: Informing learners of the objective

Gagne's second event is to inform learners of the learning objective so they know what they are expected to accomplish.

A grant trainer uses pre-test scores to assign participants to differentiated learning tracks. This practice applies the educational psychology principle of:

Answer: Mastery learning and individualized pacing

Mastery learning allows learners to progress at their own pace based on demonstrated proficiency rather than calendar time.

When a grant-funded training program aligns its learning objectives, instructional activities, and assessments, this coherent design is known as:

Answer: Constructive alignment

Constructive alignment, developed by Biggs, ensures that teaching activities and assessments are fully aligned with intended learning outcomes.

An organization measures grant staff competency by comparing performance against a fixed standard (e.g., 90% accuracy on compliance reports) rather than against peer scores. This is a:

Answer: Criterion-referenced assessment

Criterion-referenced assessments measure performance against a predetermined standard rather than relative to other test-takers.

A training director notices that grant staff who learned compliance procedures in a quiet classroom struggle when applying them in a noisy, fast-paced office. Which strategy would best improve transfer?

Answer: Vary practice conditions to simulate realistic work environments

Variability of practice exposes learners to diverse conditions, making skills more robust and transferable to real-world environments.

Which concept from expectancy theory (Vroom) explains why a grant staff member may not be motivated to complete compliance training if they believe strong performance will not lead to meaningful rewards?

Answer: Low instrumentality

Instrumentality is the belief that good performance will lead to desired outcomes; low instrumentality reduces motivation even when the person can perform.