1. Child Development and Pedagogy

  • Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: Stages of development (Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational).
  • Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory: Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), Scaffolding, and Social Interaction.
  • Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development: Eight stages, focusing on identity and social-emotional development.
  • Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development: Stages of moral reasoning (Pre-conventional, Conventional, and Post-conventional).
  • Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Different types of intelligences (Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, etc.).
  • Bloom’s Taxonomy: Cognitive domain levels (Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation).
  • Thorndike’s Laws of Learning: Law of Readiness, Law of Exercise, and Law of Effect.
  • Skinner’s Operant Conditioning: Positive and Negative Reinforcement, Punishment, and Behavior Modification.
  • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological to self-actualization needs and their importance in the classroom.
  • Bandura’s Social Learning Theory: Observational learning, Modeling, and Imitation.
  • Bruner’s Constructivist Theory: Spiral curriculum, Discovery learning, and Modes of representation.
  • Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning: Stimulus and response, Association, and Reflexive behavior.

2. Educational Psychology and Learning Theories

  • Gestalt Theory: Perception, Insight, and learning through understanding patterns.
  • Constructivist Theory (Dewey): Learning as an active, constructive process.
  • Attribution Theory (Weiner): How individuals interpret events and the impact on motivation.
  • Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura): Belief in one’s capabilities and its effect on learning.
  • Transactional Analysis (Eric Berne): Ego states (Parent, Adult, Child) and interactions in the classroom.

3. Teaching Methodologies and Approaches

  • Direct Instruction: Structured, teacher-led approach.
  • Inquiry-Based Learning: Encourages students to ask questions and investigate.
  • Cooperative and Collaborative Learning: Group work, peer tutoring, and project-based learning.
  • Differentiated Instruction: Adapting teaching to meet individual needs of students.
  • Experiential Learning (Kolb): Learning through experience, reflecting, and applying.
  • Flipped Classroom Model: Content learned outside the classroom, with active work in the classroom.
  • Constructivist and Student-Centered Learning: Focus on learner autonomy and discovery.
  • Montessori Method: Self-directed, hands-on learning.
  • Problem-Based Learning (PBL): Students work in groups to solve real-world problems.

4. Assessment and Evaluation

  • Formative and Summative Assessment: Ongoing and end-of-term assessments.
  • Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE): Regular assessment covering scholastic and co-scholastic aspects.
  • Norm-Referenced and Criterion-Referenced Testing: Comparing students versus meeting a standard.
  • Diagnostic Assessment: Identifying students’ strengths and weaknesses before instruction.
  • Peer and Self-Assessment: Students assessing themselves or each other.
  • Portfolio Assessment: Collection of students’ work to track progress.

5. General Knowledge and Current Affairs in Education

  • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Key changes in the curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment.
  • Right to Education (RTE) Act: Provisions and importance in elementary education.
  • Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA): Government initiatives for universal education.
  • Inclusive Education: Teaching strategies for students with disabilities, gifted students, and diversity in the classroom.
  • Digital and Online Learning Trends: E-learning tools, blended learning, and ICT in education.
  • Policies for Child Protection and Safe Learning Environment: POCSO Act, anti-bullying policies, and safe learning spaces.







1. Child Development and Pedagogy Terms

  • Scaffolding: Support provided by teachers to enhance learning and aid in skill acquisition.
  • Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): The range of tasks that a child can complete with guidance but not independently (Vygotsky).
  • Cognitive Development: The process by which individuals perceive, think, and understand the world through stages.
  • Moral Development: The formation of a system of values, ethics, and beliefs regarding right and wrong (Kohlberg).
  • Constructivism: A learning theory that suggests learners construct knowledge through experiences and interactions.
  • Metacognition: Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes ("thinking about thinking").
  • Operant Conditioning: A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments (Skinner).
  • Classical Conditioning: Associating a neutral stimulus with a response until the neutral stimulus alone can elicit that response (Pavlov).
  • Multiple Intelligences: Different kinds of intelligences or abilities people possess, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, and spatial (Gardner).
  • Positive Reinforcement: Strengthening a behavior by providing a rewarding consequence.
  • Negative Reinforcement: Increasing a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.
  • Egocentrism: A child’s inability to see a situation from another person’s perspective (Piaget’s Preoperational Stage).
  • Social Learning Theory: Theory that suggests people learn through observation, imitation, and modeling (Bandura).

2. Educational Psychology and Learning Theories

  • Insight Learning: Sudden realization or "aha" moment in problem-solving (Kohler).
  • Schema: Mental framework that helps organize and interpret information (Piaget).
  • Assimilation: Integrating new information into existing schemas.
  • Accommodation: Modifying existing schemas to incorporate new information.
  • Intrinsic Motivation: Performing a task because it is inherently interesting or enjoyable.
  • Extrinsic Motivation: Performing a task to receive a reward or avoid punishment.
  • Self-Efficacy: Belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task (Bandura).
  • Attribution Theory: How individuals explain the causes of behavior and events (Weiner).
  • Expectancy Theory: Motivation theory suggesting individuals are motivated by expected outcomes.
  • Learned Helplessness: The feeling of being unable to avoid negative situations despite having the power to change circumstances.

3. Teaching Methodologies

  • Differentiated Instruction: Tailoring instruction to meet the individual needs of students.
  • Inquiry-Based Learning: An approach where students actively seek answers through questioning and investigation.
  • Problem-Based Learning (PBL): Students learn through the experience of solving open-ended problems.
  • Experiential Learning: Learning through experience, particularly through reflection on doing (Kolb).
  • Constructivist Learning: A learner-centered approach focused on constructing knowledge from experiences.
  • Direct Instruction: A teacher-led approach involving structured, explicit teaching.
  • Blended Learning: Combining traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning.
  • Flipped Classroom: Instructional strategy where students review content at home and engage in activities in the classroom.
  • Collaborative Learning: Students work together in groups to solve problems or learn new concepts.
  • Competency-Based Education: Education system focused on the ability to apply specific skills.

4. Assessment and Evaluation Terms

  • Formative Assessment: Ongoing assessments used to monitor student learning and provide feedback.
  • Summative Assessment: Evaluation at the end of an instructional period to measure student learning.
  • Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE): Regular assessments focusing on both scholastic and co-scholastic areas.
  • Norm-Referenced Testing: Comparing a student's performance against a group standard.
  • Criterion-Referenced Testing: Assessing a student's performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards.
  • Diagnostic Assessment: Pre-assessment used to identify students’ strengths and areas for improvement.
  • Rubrics: Scoring guide used to evaluate the quality of students' constructed responses.
  • Portfolio Assessment: Collection of students' work to showcase learning progress and achievements.

5. General Knowledge of Education and Current Affairs

  • National Education Policy (NEP): A framework guiding the development and implementation of education policies in India.
  • Right to Education (RTE) Act: Ensures free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 in India.
  • Inclusive Education: Education that accommodates all students, regardless of physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic, or other differences.
  • Integrated Learning: Combining multiple subjects or skill areas into a single cohesive learning experience.
  • Digital Literacy: Skills required to effectively navigate, evaluate, and create information using digital technologies.
  • Constructive Feedback: Guidance provided to students to improve their work and learning process.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others.
  • Scaffolding: Temporary support provided to help students achieve a higher level of understanding or skill than they would independently.