ABCTE Professional Teaching Knowledge Practice Exam

Which of the following strategies is useful when a student is in the acquisition stage of learning?

1. The teacher demonstrates the target skill.

2. The student has frequent opportunities to drill.

3. The student gets periodic opportunities to review.

4. The student gets opportunities to practice the skill in a new setting.

The correct answer is: The teacher demonstrates the target skill.

In the acquisition stage of learning, students are working to understand and grasp new skills or concepts. Demonstrating the target skill is particularly effective because it provides students with a clear model of what they are expected to learn. This visual and practical demonstration helps to clarify the steps, techniques, or processes involved in performing the skill. It serves multiple purposes: it reduces ambiguity, illustrates what success looks like, and can motivate students to engage with the material. Modeling also allows students to observe and analyze key components of the skill, facilitating a deeper understanding of how to apply it themselves. This foundational step is crucial during the acquisition stage, as students begin to form the mental frameworks they need to replicate the skill accurately. Consequently, teachers who utilize demonstrations set students up for greater success as they move toward practice and reinforcement stages where drilling and review become more relevant.