Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Special Education Practice Exam

In cognitive development, what does a failure to generalize learning suggest?

1. The child has superior cognitive abilities

2. The child may struggle with applying learned concepts

3. The child only learns through visual prompts

4. The child demonstrates enhanced memory retention

The correct answer is: The child may struggle with applying learned concepts

In cognitive development, a failure to generalize learning indicates that a child may struggle with applying learned concepts to new situations or contexts. Generalization is a crucial aspect of cognitive development, as it allows individuals to use their knowledge and skills in various settings beyond where they were originally learned. When a child cannot generalize, it often suggests challenges in cognitive flexibility, the ability to adapt learned information in different environments, or the transfer of knowledge from one situation to another. Thus, this struggle can hinder their overall learning and academic success, emphasizing the importance of teaching strategies that promote generalization skills. The other options do not appropriately reflect the implications of a failure to generalize. Superior cognitive abilities (option A) and enhanced memory retention (option D) imply a high level of cognitive function, while learning exclusively through visual prompts (option C) suggests a specific learning style rather than a general difficulty in applying concepts.