FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What kind of educational activity primarily tests cognitive skills at higher levels of thinking?

1. Basic memorization tasks

2. Higher-Ordered activities

3. Repetitive drills

4. Passive listening sessions

The correct answer is: Higher-Ordered activities

Higher-ordered activities are designed to engage students in cognitive processes that go beyond simple recall of facts. This type of educational activity encourages critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. It typically involves tasks like problem-solving, creating arguments, or drawing conclusions based on evidence, which require learners to manipulate information and apply it in novel ways. In contrast, basic memorization tasks typically focus on rote learning where the objective is to remember information without processing it deeply. Repetitive drills reinforce skills or facts through practice, but they do not promote higher-level cognitive engagement. Passive listening sessions involve receiving information without interaction or active participation, which does not stimulate higher-order thinking. Thus, higher-ordered activities are essential for developing advanced cognitive skills in students.