FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which term refers to combining information to develop new solutions or understandings?

1. Application

2. Synthesis

3. Analysis

4. Evaluation

The correct answer is: Synthesis

The term that refers to combining information to develop new solutions or understandings is synthesis. Synthesis involves taking various pieces of information, ideas, or concepts and integrating them to create new insights or ideas. This process is critical in many fields, including education, as it fosters higher-order thinking skills where learners must merge different viewpoints or data to construct meaningful conclusions or innovative solutions. In educational contexts, synthesis encourages creativity and critical thinking, allowing students to go beyond merely recalling information or understanding concepts. Instead, they analyze relationships between different pieces of information and use that understanding to formulate new products, theories, or approaches. The other options represent different cognitive processes. Application involves using learned concepts in practical situations, analysis focuses on breaking down information into parts to understand its structure, and evaluation pertains to assessing the value or significance of information or concepts. Each of these plays a distinct role in the learning process, but synthesis is specifically about combining elements to create something new.