EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGYFebruary 13, 2009

Educational Psychology

Studies how people learn in educational settings. Tends to focus on the classroom.May often focus on specific groups such as gifted students or those with disabilities.

An analogy perhaps?

Educational Psychology : Psychology ::

Medicine : Biology ::

Engineering : Physics

Aspects We Won’t Address Today

Individual differences (too much!)Social, moral, or cognitive development (we’ve touched on this!)Research methodology (we’ll talk about this later)

Four Important Ideas

Behavioral CognitiveSocial cognitiveConstructivistConnectivist (a bonus!)

Behaviorism

Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning (late 1890s)BF Skinner’s radical behaviorism (1930-1950s)

Behaviorism

Focus on behavior outcomesSystematic rewards Operant Conditioning

Behaviorism

How do you use this?When might it be useful?

Cognitivism

The idea that traits, beliefs, memories, motivations, and emotions can determine how information in perceived, processed, stored, retrieved, and forgotten.Dual coding theory Cognitive loadSpaced Learning EffectMnemonicsProblem solving as fundamental to learning

Involves long term memory, mapping between problem and pre-existing schema

Cognitivism

Allan Paivo’s Dual-Coding Theory (1970s-80s)John Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory

Cognitivism

How do you use this?When might it be useful?

Social Cognitivism(Social Learning Theory)

Blends behavioral, cognitive, and social thinkingObservational learning: watching others and change own behavior as a result of observationLast few decades: self-regulated learning and metacognition

These both hypothesize effective learners are active agents who construct knowledge by setting goals, analyzing tasks, planning strategies, and monitoring understanding

Those who are better at goal setting and self-monitoring have a greater intrinsic task interest and self-efficacy

Social Cognitivism(Social Learning Theory)

NE Miller and J Dollard’s Social Learning Theory (1941)Albert Bandura (1977)

Social Cognitivism

How do you use this?When might it be useful?

Constructivism

Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning focuses on internalization based on interaction with adults, more capable peers, and cognitive tools.

Constructivism

Places emphasis on agency and prior knowledge of the learner and often on social/cultural determinants of the learning processRelated to Piaget’s individual/psychological constructivism from social constructivismLearners socialized through social interactions within community of practice

Constructivism

How do you use this?When might it be useful?

Connectivism

George Siemens (2000s!)Learning in a digital ageBuilds on previous modelsCommunity of Learning

Connectivism

How do you use this?When might it be useful?

Four Important Ideas

Behavioral CognitiveSocial cognitiveConstructivistConnectivist (a bonus!)

MOTIVATION!

Motivation

Internal state that activates, guides, and sustains behavior.Will, interest, intrinsic motivation, personal goals, belief about the causes of their success or failure

Motivation

Bernard Weiner’s Attribution Theory:Focuses on students’ beliefs about their success level

Motivation

Goals: Mastery goals increase ability and knowledge

Performance approach goals strive for high grades and seek opportunities to demonstrate their abilities

Performance avoidance goals driven by fear of failure and where abilities are exposed

Motivation

Issues in motivation?