A
What is metacognition?
The amount of information that must be simultaneously considered to complete a task, which may impose a strain on working memory
What is cognitive load?
The outdated belief that knowledge in subjects related to precision and detail makes students stronger overall, even in unrelated areas (e.g. Latin "sharpens one's mind")
What is the formal discipline perspective?
Tasks wherein all the necessary information is provided and there is only one correct answer (e.g. solving for x in the equation "x2 - 7 = 9" when x is positive)
What are well-defined problems?
The techniques one purposefully employs to learn and remember information
What are learning strategies?
The beliefs students hold regarding the nature of knowledge and learning
What are epistemic beliefs?
Information that students assume is relevant only to one particular discipline, isolated from other subjects and the "real world"
What is context-bound material?
Tasks wherein relevant information is missing, the goal is ambiguous, and/or there are multiple potential solutions (e.g. what should be done about conflict in the Middle East)
What are ill-defined problems?
Learning behaviors that are outwardly visible, such as taking notes or creating summaries
What are overt strategies?
When knowledge and skills from one situation affects performance in another, despite there being little similarity between them
What is general transfer?
Tasks that are similar or identical to those found in real-world contexts
What are authentic activities?
Wherein the encoding of a problem leads students to overlook potential solutions
What is a mental set?
Learning behaviors that are internal, mental activities, such as self-regulating and comprehension monitoring
What are covert strategies?
When knowledge and skills used in one circumstance improve performance in another (e.g. logic puzzles involve reasoning skills that can be helpful for algebra)
What is positive transfer?
The process by which several pieces of information are combined in order to solve a problem (e.g. using algebra and geometry to solve a word problem)
What is convergent thinking?
A specific series of steps that, if done correctly, guarantees a solution to a certain kind of problem (e.g. instructions for making an origami crane)
What is an algorithm?
The tendency of students, especially those who fail to monitor their own comprehension, to overestimate how well they understand material
What is the illusion of knowing?
When knowledge and skills in one circumstance hinder performance in another (e.g. colorful and unique language is good for creative writing but frowned upon in scientific reporting styles like APA)
What is negative transfer?
The process by which someone generates several ideas from a single starting point (e.g. considering all of the shapes that can be made from a ball of clay)
What is divergent thinking?
General guidelines for behavior that, while useful, may or may not lead to a successful outcome (e.g. how to behave during an interview)
What are heuristics?