MLED 3092

Psychological Foundations

Spring 2001

 

 

Dr. @atu.edu 968-0421

 

Office hours: M 8-10 a.m., 2:30-4:00 p.m.; T 8:30-9:00 a.m.; W 8:45-10:00 a.m., 1-2 p.m., 3:45-5:00 p.m.; R 8-9 a.m., F 8:30-10:00 a.m.

 

Conceptual Framework: Professionals for the Future

 

Catalog Description: Prerequisite: Admission to Stage II of the Middle Level teacher education program.  General principles of learning, the learner’s potentialities with attention to individual differences, the environment of effective learning, application of psychology to educational problems.

 

Course Description: What makes a successful interdisciplinary team member in the middle school?  This course is the link between the content of educational psychology and the “real world,” and the implications it has for learning and teaching.  Through a learner-centered orientation this course introduces students to educational psychology as a research oriented discipline and a science of practical application.  The integration of research and application of the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical characteristics is achieved through observation and interaction in the middle school setting.  Prominent theories of learning, motivation, and development are tailored to the adolescent learner, the text of successful collaboration.

 

Textbook:

Eggen, P., & Kauchak, D. (2001).  Educational psychology: Windows on classrooms (5th ed.).  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

 

Bibliography:

Brandt, R. S. (2000).  Education in a new era.  Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Graber, J. A., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Petersen, A. C. (1996).  Transitions through adolescence.  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Kellough, R. D., & Kellough, N. G. (1996).  Middle school teaching.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

            Vygotsky, L. S. (1978).  Mind in society.  Cambridge, MA: Harvard Press.

           

 

Course Objectives:

            Upon completion of this course, teacher candidates will be able to:

 

1.      Define educational psychology, relate these theories and principles to the development of middle level learners, and use these theories to improve teaching and learning in the middle grades.

2.      Explain how the theories and principles of educational psychology can be used in the field to improve teaching and learning for students in the middle grades.

3.      Analyze and assess the role of appropriate educational research as a resource and a process for improving teaching and learning for students in the middle grades.

4.      Define and discuss the roles of heredity and environment in creating differences among middle level learners.

5.      Compare and contrast behavioral, cognitive, and observational theories of learning and apply them to middle level classroom situations.

6.      Define the concept of motivation from the behaviorist, cognitive, and humanistic points of view; design and implement appropriate motivational techniques in the middle school setting.

7.      Determine the characteristics of effective middle school teachers and explain how these characteristics promote effective learning.

8.      Describe the functions of planning and apply these functions to middle level classroom situations.

9.      Explain the concept of multicultural education and apply it in the middle school setting.

10.  Plan and implement unit and daily lesson plans which utilize a variety of teaching models including direct instruction (mastery learning), inquiry learning, guided discovery, individualized learning, cooperative group learning, and concept attainment as they are related to middle school learners and classrooms.

11.  Write performance-based objectives and questions in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domain that are appropriate for the early adolescent learner.

12.  Demonstrate appropriate questioning techniques for the middle school classroom.

13.  Demonstrate lesson presentation skills including set induction, advance organizers, lecture discussions, guided and independent practice and closure that are appropriate for middle school students.

14.  Selecting from a variety of management models, design a management system appropriate to the needs of middle level learners.

 

Course Content:

I.                    Educational Psychology and Research

II.                 Behavioral, Cognitive, and Social or Observational Theories of Learning

III.               Contributions of Piaget and Vygotsky to Cognitive Learning Theory

IV.              Roles of Heredity and Environment in the Creation of Individuals

V.                 Behaviorist, Cognitive, and Humanistic Theories of Motivation

VI.              Effective Teaching Characteristics for the Middle Level

VII.            Multicultural Education

VIII.         Management Models for the Middle Level

IX.              Teaching Models for the Middle Level

X.                 Performance-Based Objectives and Questions

XI.              Questioning Techniques

XII.            Lesson Presentation

 

Course Requirements

 

·        Developmental profile of either a culturally different or “challenging” student at the assigned middle level classroom (50 points)

 

 

 

Second, as part of the paradigmatic you will plan a unit that takes into consideration a variety of instructional strategies, useful planning, appropriate theoretical background, learner diversity, and effective management techniques outlined in the Course Objectives listed above.  The unit should be based upon the appropriate Arkansas Curriculum Framework Standards.

IF YOU ARE CONCURRENTLY ENROLLED IN MLED3034 - LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, YOU WILL USE THE UNIT DESIGN FROM THAT COURSE AS A TEMPLATE FOR CONSIDERING THE COURSE OBJECTIVES IN YOUR UNIT FOR THIS COURSE. 

IF YOU ARE NOT CONCURRENTLY ENROLLED IN MLED3034, YOU MAY MODIFY/ADJUST A SUCCESSFUL UNIT (GRADE “C” (75%) OR HIGHER) YOU HAVE CREATED IN ANOTHER COURSE TO MEET THE CURRENT COURSE OBJECTIVES.  (Total project – 200 points)

 

 

 

 

Please observe the following guidelines:

Assignments

 

Class Absences

·        Students who miss two classes are sent a warning letter and are dropped from the class upon the third absence.  For emergency absences please refer to the Arkansas Tech University WebPage under the Student Services link (www.atu.edu).

 

 

Plagiarism and Other Academic Misconduct

·        Any student found to have committed academic misconduct including, but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty is subject to the disciplinary sanction outlined in Article IV in the Arkansas Tech Student Handbook, 1998-1999.

 

·        Plagiarism is defined as “to take and use ideas, passages, etc. from another’s work representing them as one’s own”. (1993 Randon House Webster’s Dictionary).

 

Incomplete Grade Contract

·        An “I” at the end of any semester may be assigned only under the following conditions:

·        A grade of incomplete is appropriate ONLY in situations where the student has an illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control, and has completed at least seventy-five percent of the course requirements, provided work already completed is of passing quality. If a grade of “I” is assigned, the student and instructor, together, will complete and sign this contract.

·        The signed contract must be attached to the final grade sheet if a grade of “I” is assigned, and is only valid if both parties have signed.

·        If the remaining course requirements are not completed and final “C” grade reported by the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring) the grade will be automatically changed to a grade of “F” for grade and grade purposes.

 

Course Date Outline

 

January 17                                Introduction, Overview of Course

 

January 24                                Syllabus discussion, Introduction to Middle Level Ideals,

                                                Educational Psychology Overview, Learning Theory Intro.

 

January 31-February 14           Chapters 6 & 7 - Learning Theory, Chapter 12 – Objectives and lesson planning

 

February 21                             EXAM I, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Constructivism- Chapter 2

 

February 21-March 7               Piaget, Vygotsky, Constructivism, and Motivation – Chapters 2 & 10

 

March 14                                 EXAM II, Introduction to Learner Diversity – Chapter 4

 

March 28-April 11                   Learner Diversity, Concept Learning, Transfer, and Problem-solving – Chapters 4 & 8

 

April 18-May 2                        EXAM III, Management Issues – Chapter 11

 

FINAL EXAM TBA

 

                                                                       

Assignment Due Dates:

Developmental Profile:                                                  March 14

 

 

First Teach with Lesson Plan and Evaluation:                 March 28 (make appointment with professor for feedback and viewing)

 

Second Teach with Lesson Plan and Evaluation:            April 18

 

Paradigmatic/Unit Plan Assignment:                               April 25