Exam 4: Understanding Student Differences

Students exhibit a variety of learning styles in every classroom. Is it possible for a teacher to address these differences during instruction and assessment of student achievement? Discuss the educational implications of learning style for teachers who set time aside for reflection.

Describe how you would accomplish the goals of accurately assessing what students have learned and expanding their learning style repertoire.

Enriqué, who is in ninth grade, has exhibited a high level of logical-mathematical ability but a low level of spatial ability. His parents want him to pursue a career in math or science but are concerned that he may choose a career that does not place such a heavy emphasis on spatial ability. Enriqué's parents approach you asking for advice on how his spatial ability could be improved. If you shared Howard Gardner's views about intelligence, which of the following statements would guide your response to Enriqué's parents?

Describe how making educational decisions for students based solely on an IQ number can be dangerous.

Explain why we no longer believe that IQ scores are fixed and cannot change.

Which of the following statements represents the most appropriate application of learning styles research to one's teaching practices?

When psychologists talk about the consistent ways in which students use their learning abilities to cope with the demands of classroom tasks, they are referring to

Mrs. Robbins teaches third grade. Her students are studying fractions. She has planned for a variety of instructional and assessment activities. Her students will practice working problems involving the addition/subtraction and multiplication/division of fractions until they remember to use the appropriate methods for handling like and unlike denominators. They will also work exercises in which they will be required to identify equivalent and nonequivalent values. Additionally, students will work in groups using fractions to measure ingredients for a snack they will prepare. At the end of the unit, all students will take an exam on which they will solve equations and write an essay about the use of fractions outside of math class. Mrs. Robbins's methods are best described as an application of ____________ view of intelligence.

Terrel is an outgoing student who gets along with just about everyone and has a reputation for being a good listener. He has decided to run for public office some day. Most people think he will be a successful politician. Given his personal characteristics and occupational goal, what would you be willing to say about Terrel's level of intelligence?

Researchers have found that significantly more males than females choose careers in math or science. The most likely reason for this imbalance is that

Describe gender bias in the classroom and suggest a reason that it occurs. There are at least three ways that gender bias affects students. List and describe the three ways.

What is an IQ score? Discuss the stability of IQ scores and describe the factors that affect score stability. Determine whether it is possible to raise an individual's IQ score and provide the rationale for your decision.

Maria was administered an IQ test in fourth grade. She received an overall score of 135 on this test (which is more than two standard deviations above average). On the basis of this score, we can infer that Maria

Learning styles are thought of as

A high school girl elects to take trigonometry and biology but not calculus and physics, aspires to a career in nursing rather than computer science, and rarely participates in class discussions. This pattern most likely reflects the effects of

Define the term learning style and note whether it is possible to alter an individual's learning style.

Name and describe the learning style dimension, proposed by Witkin, that relates to the context in which information is presented to students.

Discuss the similarities and differences between Sternberg's and Gardner's theories of intelligence. Include in your discussion the name of each theory and a brief description of its basic premises.

Describe Robert Sternberg's theory of intelligence. Identify the dimensions of intelligence included in his theory and describe the one that would be relevant to a transfer student who is trying to "fit in" with his or her new classmates.

With which of the following statements would Howard Gardner most likely agree?