CLEP Educational Psychology Cram Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the Cognitive, Behavioral, Developmental, and Motivational perspectives of Educational Psychology, along with testing, pedagogy, and research methods.

Attention

The act of focusing mental resources.

Selective attention

A type of attention that involves ignoring distractions.

Top-down perception

Interpreting sensory input based on prior knowledge.

Bottom-up perception

Interpreting sensory input driven by the stimulus itself.

Encoding

The memory process of inputting information.

Storage

The memory process of retaining information.

Retrieval

The memory process of recalling information.

Algorithms

A specific method used for problem solving.

Transfer

The act of applying knowledge to different contexts.

Metacognition

The process of thinking about thinking.

Scaffolding

Temporary support provided during the learning process.

Phonemes

The fundamental sounds of a language.

Syntax

The grammar rules of a language.

Semantics

The meaning within a language.

Classical conditioning

Learning via association, as identified by Pavlov.

Operant conditioning

Behavior shaped by consequences, as identified by Skinner.

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the frequency of a behavior.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the frequency of a behavior.

Token systems

A behavioral application using rewards to shape behavior.

Piaget

The theorist associated with the stages of cognitive development.

Schema

A mental model of the world.

Assimilation vs Accommodation

Processes involved in schema development; fitting new info into models vs. changing models to fit info.

Erikson

The theorist known for psychosocial stages of development.

Kohlberg

The theorist known for moral development levels.

Intrinsic motivation

Motivation that comes from within an individual.

Extrinsic motivation

Motivation driven by external rewards or factors.

Self-efficacy

The belief in one's own ability to succeed.

Learned helplessness

The tendency to give up after experiencing repeated failure.

Pygmalion effect

The phenomenon where high expectations lead to an increase in performance.

Gardner

The theorist associated with the concept of multiple intelligences.

Tracking

The practice of grouping students by their ability levels.

Formative evaluation

Ongoing testing used to monitor student progress.

Summative evaluation

Final testing used to evaluate learning at the end of an instructional period.

Norm-referenced testing

Testing that compares a student's performance against others.

Criterion-referenced testing

Testing measured against specific standards or criteria.

Reliability

The consistency of test results over time.

Validity

The accuracy of a test in measuring what it is intended to measure.

Constructivism

A pedagogical approach by Vygotsky where learning occurs through interaction.

ZPD

Zone of Proximal Development; the gap between what a learner can do alone and with help.

Differentiation

Adapting teaching methods to meet the individual needs of students.

Experimental research

Research designed to determine cause and effect relationships.

Correlational research

Research identifying only the relationship between variables, not cause and effect.

Culturally responsive teaching

A pedagogical approach that addresses multiculturalism and student background.

SES

Socioeconomic status; an individual difference that impacts learning.