WGU D637 Curriculum & Instructional Strategies for Meaningful Learning

Adapted after importing set from Quizlet by Jocisco from June 2025.

What are academic standards?

These standards outline what students should learn and achieve at each grade level across various subjects.

What are National Standards?

These standards provide a unified set of expectations for student learning nationwide.

What are State Standards?

These standards generally align with national guidelines while addressing specific local needs and priorities.

What is the primary purpose of academic standards?

To set clear, measurable goals for student learning that guide curriculum development, instructional planning, and assessment practices.

Which statement best describes the function of educational standards?

They serve as benchmarks for student performance and guide curriculum development.

Which statement best describes the role of district-level standards in the educational standards hierarchy?

They further detail state standards to address specific district needs and resources.

What is a scope and sequence?

A scope and sequence actively charts the progression of these standards, specifying the sequence and timing of instruction throughout an academic program.

What do standards identify in student learning?

the "what"

What does scope and sequence identify in student learning?

the "how" and "when"

What is the concept of spiraling curriculum?

It recognizes that certain topics recur throughout the year through re-teaching, but also throughout different grade levels, each time with increasing complexity and depth.

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between standards, scope and sequence, and spiraling curriculum in educational planning?

Standards define the learning objectives, the scope and sequence map out the order and timing of instruction, and the spiraling curriculum builds on this foundation by revisiting concepts with increasing complexity.

True/False: State academic standards vary primarily due to political factors influencing the writing process.

False

What are Common Core State Standards?

They represent a significant development in the landscape of national standards and were introduced to establish clear and consistent educational benchmarks focusing on mathematics and English language arts.

Which aspect of the CCSS is highlighted using active verbs such as solve, determine, and analyze?

The CCSS's emphasis is on students' engagement with content through higher-order thinking processes.

What does the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) focus on?

Science

What does the College, Career, and Civic life (C3) focus on?

Social Studies

What does the NGSS for Grade 5 emphasize compared to the C3 standards for Grade 8?

NGSS emphasizes the development of models to understand scientific concepts, while the C3 framework highlights historical analysis and civic participation.

What are Learning Objectives?

They guide students toward what they should learn and be able to accomplish.

How do objectives contribute to the teaching and learning process?

They bridge the gap between broad educational standards and daily classroom activities, guiding the design of engaging and effective lessons.

What does a well-crafted learning objective consist of?

1. The condition under which the learning will occur.
2. The specific behavior or skill to be demonstrated.
3. The criterion for acceptable behavior.

Which of the following statements accurately reflects key aspects of creating well-defined learning objectives?

The condition in an objective should define the environment or tools available when the skill is performed.

What is the primary purpose of aligning learning objectives with educational standards?

To guide the design of curriculum and assessments that meet predetermined educational goals.

Select all elements that should be included in a well-defined learning objective?

Clear criteria for assessing student performance and a specific, observable action or behavior.

Which of the following best describes the role of state standards in shaping educational content?

They provide benchmarks for what students should learn at each grade level.

How should educators use the criteria component of a learning objective?

To specify the level at which students need to perform to demonstrate mastery.

What are the five Instructional Strategies?

Direct instruction, Indirect instruction, Discovery learning, Independent/Individual studies, and Cooperative learning.

What does Direct Instruction involve?

Teachers deliver content directly to students, often through lectures or demonstrations, ensuring clear communication of key concepts aligned with educational standards.

What does Indirect instruction encourage?

Students to discover knowledge through activities like inquiry and problem-solving, promoting critical thinking skills while aligning with curriculum goals.

What does Discovery Learning allow students to do?

Explore concepts independently, fostering curiosity and deeper understanding, which supports standards-based learning objectives through active engagement and exploration.

What do Individual/Independent studies empower students to do?

To pursue topics of interest at their own pace, ensuring personalized learning experiences while meeting specified learning outcomes.

What does Cooperative Learning involve?

Collaborative group activities where students work together to achieve shared goals, enhancing social skills alongside academic achievement, by educational standards.

What is a key feature of direct instruction?

It utilizes teacher-led lessons with clear and precise instructions.

What is the five-step process of Direct instruction?

Introduction/Review, Present New Material, Guided Practice, Independent Practice, and Evaluation/Review.

Introduction/Review

Build upon previous lessons

Present New Material

State Main Points

Guided Practice

Conduct Interactive Practice

Independent Practice

Apply new information

Evaluation/Review

Use formative assessments

What are some examples of Indirect instruction?

Problem-solving, case studies, guided inquiry, reading for understanding, reflective discussions, and concept mapping.

True/False: Direct and Indirect instruction work well together despite their obvious differences?

True

Which of the following best captures the essence of indirect instruction?

It is characterized by learner-led exploration, where students actively engage with content through activities like discussions and problem-solving.

What are the Indirect Instructional Strategies?

Active learning, Problem-based learning, Project-based learning, and Inquiry-based learning.

What is Passive Learning?

A teacher delivers information in a traditional lecture setting and the students absorb the information by listening and taking notes.

What is Active Learning?

It requires students to engage and participate in their learning process through strategies like discussions, problem-solving, case studies, and hands-on activities.

Which teaching approach aligns with fostering critical thinking and active engagement in learning, as opposed to the direct transmission of information?

Student-Centered: The focus of instruction is on the learner, encouraging active participation and independent thinking.

What is Student-centered teaching?

The focus shifts from the teacher being the primary source of knowledge to the students taking an active role in their learning.

What is Experiential learning?

Engages learners in a process that often includes real-life applications and reflective thought.

Which principle is at the core of discovery/experiential learning strategies?

Engaging students in hands-on experiences and reflections to deepen understanding.

What are the Strategies for Discovery Learning?

Role-play and Simulations.

Ms. Lee plans to use discovery learning to deepen students' comprehension of a novel. Which instructional strategy and subsequent experiential learning activity best aligns with this approach?

After a series of role-plays where students debate key decisions of the novel's characters, they stage a mock trial to evaluate character motivations and actions critically.

In independent learning students are encouraged to:

Set their own learning goals, explore topics of personal interest, and pace their study.

What are some Independent Learning Strategies?

Individual research projects, Self-paced learning modules, Journaling/learning logs, and Online courses and assessments.

Which of the following activities align with principles of independent/individual studies?

Assigning a research project where students investigate local ecosystems independently.

Encouraging students to create media presentations on selected literary characters.

Designing a mathematics assignment where students analyze real estate market data to understand financial concepts.

What are some advantages of Independent learning?

Encourages self-directed learning, enhances critical thinking and problem-solving, promotes time management and organizational skills, and tailors learning experiences.

What are some disadvantages of Independent learning?

Risk of isolation, varied motivation levels, lack of immediate feedback, and challenges in assessing learning.

Which of the following is a fundamental principle of Cooperative learning?

Cooperative learning involves students working in small groups to achieve common goals and complete tasks.

What are some instructional strategies for Cooperative learning?

Think-Pair-Share, Jigsaw, Brainstorming, Role Plays, and Peer Teaching.

Think-Pair-Share

Students discuss a historical event in pairs, then join another pair to build a timeline.

Jigsaw

Each student starts with a fact about a rainforest animal; groups assemble a shared ecosystem web.

Brainstorming

The class forms a circle to suggest ways to reduce the carbon footprint, each student adding an idea.

Role Play

Group reenact a debate from a classic novel, exploring different characters' viewpoints.

Peer Teaching

A student explains the process of photosynthesis while others give feedback and ask questions.

What are some advantages of Cooperative learning?

Enhances social skills, promotes higher engagement, improves academic performance, develops critical thinking, and builds self-esteem.

What are some disadvantages of Cooperative learning?

Group dependency, unequal participation, complexity in assessment, time-consuming, and varied skill levels.

Mr. Johnson notices that during a group assignment, one student is dominating the conversation while others passively agree without contributing. Which disadvantage of cooperative learning does this scenario highlight?

Group Dependency

How should an educator align a lesson with standards requiring students to analyze and synthesize information?

Utilize various instructional strategies, such as group discussions and independent research, to encourage deep understanding.

Which instructional strategy is best suited for developing problem-solving skills in students?

Inquiry-based learning because it involves exploration and questioning.

Which aspect of cooperative learning is emphasized by having students work in small groups to achieve common goals?

Building interdependence and shared responsibility.

Mr. Lee's class is exploring various cultures around the world. He sets up stations around the classroom, each representing a different country with unique activities designed to engage students in learning about each culture's customs, language, and history

Facilitate discussions and interactions at each station to encourage students to share insights and ask questions.

What are Learning Theories?

Ideas that help teachers decide how to teach students effectively.

What are the different learning theories and who created them?

Behaviorism - Ivan Pavlov
Cognitivism - Charles Reigeluth, David Merrill, and Jerome Bruner
Constructivism - Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, and Lev Vygotsky
Connectivism - George Siemens and Stephen Downes
Humanism - Abraham Maslow

Behaviorism

A teacher lectures on chemical reactions.

Cognitivism

An exercise where students use a mnemonic device to remember the steps of the scientific method.

Constructivism

A classroom debate on the ethical implications of genetic cloning.

Connectivism

An online project where students construct a model of a sustainable city.

Humanism

A reflection journal where students express their feelings about their learning journey.

How does the ZPD guide instructional practices?

By determining tasks that challenge students beyond their current abilities.

During a history lesson, Ms Lee. provides a tutorial on analyzing primary sources. Which type of scaffold does this activity use?

Functional

Which type of scaffolding best encourages students to analyze their own learning process?

Metacognitive

What learning theory aligns with an instructional method that focuses on the internal thought processes of the learner?

Cognitivism

In which learning theory does scaffolding play a crucial role in assisting students through their ZPD?

Constructivism

Consider the following standard: Classify real values as whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, or irrational numbers. What is one example of an objective that aligns with this standard?

With a partner, use a diagram to classify real numbers with at least 80% accuracy.

Consider the following standard: write simple biographical sentences in Spanish. Which objective is in alignment?

When asked a question about themselves, the student writes a simple sentence response in Spanish with 80% accuracy.

Which standard is in alignment with the following objective? Given a major division of the nervous system, the student can identify its function 80% of the time?

Explain the purpose of each division of the nervous system.

A teacher wants to use an active learning strategy to teach a lesson about the objective, "Given a real-world scenario, write and graph a linear equation with 80% accuracy." Which method is appropriate?

Have students use physical models to perform the graphing.

An effective strategy needs to be chosen to introduce new content in a lesson to address the following standard: Describe the shared characteristics of mammals. Which strategy should be used?

Deliver a well-planned and organized lecture about mammals.

The primary instructional strategies a teacher uses are lectures and rote learning with worksheets and homework. What is the learning theory that aligns with this style?

Behaviorism

Which methods of instruction are well aligned with constructivism?

Experiential learning, discovery, and scaffolding.

What are Formative Assessments?

Checks for understanding that take place during the learning process

What is the process of a Formative assessment?

Begins with setting clear objectives, goals, and standards that guide the learning.

This leads to targeted instruction where lessons are fine-tuned to meet students' specific needs.

Teachers then gather insights that inform their teaching methods and differentiation strategies.

The cycle is complete as teachers respond to the resulting data analysis, further refining their approach to support each student's growth.

What is the primary purpose of formative assessments in the learning process?

To provide ongoing feedback that informs teaching and supports student learning.

What are some examples of formative assessments?

Observations, in-class conversations, thumbs up and thumbs down, writing answers on whiteboards, exit tickets, and peer feedback.

Ms. Johnson teaches 7th-grade science and is currently covering a unit on ecosystems. She wants to assess her students' understanding of the material in a way that informs her teaching and helps students reflect on their learning process. She plans to use this formative assessment to adjust her upcoming lessons based on the students' needs.

Which formative assessment method should Ms. Johnson use to effectively gauge her students' understanding of ecosystems and provide actionable feedback?

Exit tickets at the end of each lesson.

What are Summative Assessments?

A final assessment at the end of each unit, semester, or academic year to give a conclusive overview of student achievement and to determine if they have met the learning objectives set out at the start of the instructional period.