Educational Psychology

Learning Outcomes

This course is designed to promote a fundamental understanding of the various theories of learning that have been developed to help us explain how people learn, emphasizing on the effects on the learner, the learning process, and the learning situation in educational environments, especially digital ones.

On completion of the course, the students will be able:

• to demonstrate a critical understanding of a wide range of theoretical perspectives of learning which have been developed to understand human behavior.
• to analyze these perspectives in terms of the nature of learning in technology enhanced learning environments (TELE).
• to show ability to match knowledge to how human learns through designing lessons/case studies etc.
• to synthesise and create knowledge into an understanding of the implications of the learning theories for every day practice in TELE
• to demonstrate knowledge and appreciate of social diversity in solving problems in the classroom through individual projects and assignments, and through work in groups/community classrooms.

Course Contents

• Psychological Learning theories: i) Behavioral Learning Theories. ii) Social Cognitive Learning theories (self- efficacy & self-regulation). iii) Cognitive Learning theories and tools. iv) Social Constructivism: Vygotsky’s Theory (open-ended learning environments).
• Neuroscience & Information Processing: information processing models, memory, perception, attention, mnemonic devices & strategies, chunking, metacognitive strategies, problem solving, critical thinking, hyperlearning, applications in TELE.
• Social Constructivism (Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, Situated Learning, Cognitive Apprenticeship, Communities of Practices): principles, conditions, restrictions, applications in TELE.
• Critical approaches of learning theories based on digital learning environments: learning and applications in TELE (software tools, open learning environments, communication and collaborative tools).
• Applications in different conditions of schooling (primary-secondary), tertiary educational programs.
• LLL programs for professional development, job training, and business settings (marketing, sales, advertising, health).

Recommended Readings

• Elliott S, Kratochwill T, Littlefield-Cook J, Travers J. (2000). Educational Psychology: Effective Teaching, Effective Learning, Brown & Benchmark Pub.
• Slavin R., E. (2008). Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice, 9th ed., Allyn & Bacon.
• Snowman, J. Biehler, R. (2008). Psychology Applied to Teaching, 12th Edition, Hougton & Mifflin.
• Woolfolk, A. (2010). Educational Psychology, 11th ed., Allyn & Bacon.
• Roblyer M.D. (2009). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, 5th ed., Allyn & Bacon.
• Mayer, R. C., Richard, E. (2007). e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning, Pfeiffer.
• Reggie, K., Fox, R., Chan F. T., Tsang P. (2008). Enhancing Learning Through Technology: Research on Emerging Technologies and Pedagogies. World Scientific
• Beetham, H., Sharpe, R. (2007). Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age: Designing and Delivering E-Learning, Routledge.
• Sawyer, R. K. (2006). The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences, Cambridge University Press.