Educational
Psychology
771
,Content Focus for the Test: Theme 1
General human development
Understanding the various developmental domains
within the context of adolescence
Understand and apply Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecosystemic
model to explore various adolescent developmental and
learning related phenomena
Analyse the different developmental domains
(neurological, cognitive, and psycho-social) during
adolescence and identify as well as explain the possible
implications for learning and teaching (Influence).
These notes use a combination of lecture notes and the
readings that were given in class. I have opted for more
explanations than less so please do not panic at the amount of
pages! I wanted to ensure that all concepts were explained
thoroughly for all. You might also see repetition - this is good
for learning.
The notes are also laid out in a way that if you are struggling
with any of the concepts you can easily find the powerpoint and
listen to our lecturer's explanation.
I also trust you that these notes will not be shared.
Good luck!
, by Amy Rose Wilson
Lecture 1 - Introduction
Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific
study of human development & learning.
The study of learning processes, from cognitive, behavioural and social
perspectives, allows researchers to understand individual differences in intelligence,
cognitive development, affect, motivation, self-regulation, and self-concept, as well
as their role in learning.
Essentially, educational psychology examines what happens when someone teaches
something to someone else in some setting.
The field of educational psychology attempt to enhance educational activities
related to:
Instructional design
Classroom management
Assessment
These all serve to facilitate learning processes in various educational settings across the
lifespan.
With educational psychology there is a clear distinction between the process of
teaching and learning as presented by teachers in the classroom as well as the
psychology of learning within human development.
Some more notes:
The discipline or science of educational psychology has a significant role in
education of translating psychological theory into suggestions for teachers.
On teacher education, the focus of educational psychology is mostly identifying and
preventing learning problems, motivation and support for learning and acquiring
knowledge of human development and theories of development and learning.
, by Amy Rose Wilson
What is development? What is development?
• …process of growing, transforming, maturation and sophistication (delicate process of
It can be boiled down to the process unlockingofpotential!)
growing, transforming, maturation and
sophistication
• Example: physical(delicate
maturityprocess of unlocking
= pre-programmed bypotential!)
genetics (‘hard wired’into DNA) with
critical periods during which specific physical events take place (time).
An example could be physical maturity!
- Think of a baby growing
Physical maturity is pre-programmed
• Depending on immediate environmental opportunities by genetics(interaction
(‘hard wired
with’into DNA) with
environment
critical periods during whichdoes specific
thephysical events take place (time).
‘shaping’).
Think of a baby growing.
• Continuous process and implies change, growth, maturation.
• Is development the result of biological determinants (genetics, hormones) or
More on development
environmental influences (social, parenting styles, physical – poverty)?
It largely depends on the -immediate environmental opportunities (interaction
Nature vs nurture
with environment
- The interaction betweendoes the ‘shaping’).and hereditary is considered more important
the environment
It is a continuousthanprocess and implies
the respective change, growth,
contribution of each.maturation.
- There is no set way to determine the respective effect of nature or nurture on an
Nature
individual HOWEVERVS Nurture Debate
a useful guideline, in most cases, is that hereditary sets the limits and
Is development the
the environment determines to what result of extent
biological determinants
a certain (genetics,
characteristic hormones)
will develop or
between
environmental influences (social, parenting
those limits. styles, physical – poverty)?
The interaction between the environment and hereditary is considered more
important than the respective contribution of each.
There is no set way to determine the respective effect of nature or nurture on an
individual HOWEVER a useful guideline, in most cases, is that hereditary sets the
limits and the environment determines to what extent a certain
characteristic will develop between those limits.
The top three?
Educational Psychology in the classroom: understanding and improving teaching
and learning processes
Human development: complex (myriad of factors, influences, events), dynamic
(continually changing, growth), interdependent (different contextual environments)
Understanding the contextual factors that have influenced my choice in becoming a
teacher?
