Learning and Educational Psychology: Course Outline

1. Course Content:

Theories of physholocial land cognitive development:

• Jean Paiget,s Cognitive
• Lev Vygotsky’s Cognitive Development Theory
• Erikson’s stages of psycholocial development
• Moral development – Kohlberg’s theory
• Self-esteem and self-control

Behavioral Psychology

• Classical conditioning (Pavlov), Thorndike’ theories and Operant conditioning (Skinner)
• Behavioral theories of learning and teaching

Cognitive Psychology and knowledge construction

• Construction of knowledge (meaningful learning, constructivism, discovery learning)
• Jerome Bruner’s modes of representation and its implications for instructions
• Meaningful Learning and Schema Theory (Ausbel’s Meaningful Reception learning, role of schema in learning, activating prior knowledge,)
• Information Procession Theory and its implications for instructions

Thinking skills

• Critical and creative thinking
• Formation of attitudes, perceptions
• Metacognition and emotional intelligence
• Problem solving
• Transferring skills

Learning and motivation

• Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy
• Attribution Theory (Weiner)
• Skinner and the use of reinforcers to increase motivation
• Albert Bandura’s SocailCoginive Theory
• Positive Learning Environment (Motivation and Classroom Management)
• Multiple intelligences
• Learning Styles