PowerPoint Presentation to accompany

Educational Psychology
Third Edition

by John W. Santrock

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER 1
Educational Psychology: A Tool for Effective Teaching

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Learning Goals
1.

Describe some basic ideas about the field of educational psychology

Identify the attitudes and skills of an effective teacher

2.

3.

Discuss why research is important to effective teaching and how educational psychologists and teachers can conduct and evaluate research

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Educational Psychology: A Tool for Effective Teaching

Exploring Educational Psychology

Historical Background

Teaching: Art and Science

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Educational Psychology

is a branch of psychology that specializes in understanding teaching and learning in educational settings.

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Historical Background of Ed Psych

1850 1875 1900 1925 1950

William James John Dewey

E. L. Thorndike

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William James (1842-1910)

Emphasized the importance of observing teaching and learning in the classroom for improving education

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John Dewey (1859-1952)

Viewed the child as an active learner Emphasized the childs adaptation to the environment Pushed for competent education for all children

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E. L. Thorndike (1874-1949)

Initiated an emphasis on assessment and measurement of learning Promoted the idea that educational psychology must have a scientific base and that measurement should be a central focus

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Educational Psychologys Historical Background

Leta Hollingworth
1916 - First to use the term gifted to describe students who scored exceptionally high on IQ tests
that intelligence tests were culturally biased against minority children

George Sanchez 1932 - Researcher who demonstrated

Mamie and Kenneth Clark

1939 - Pioneering researchers who studied African American childrens self-conceptions and identity

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Behavioral Approach

B.F. Skinner (1938) Psychology as the science of observable behavior and controlling conditions 1950s programmed learning

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The Cognitive Revolution

1950s Blooms Taxonomy of Cognitive Skills

1980s Cognitive Psychology

memory, thinking, reasoning to help student learn

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Educational Psychology: A Tool for Effective Teaching

Effective Teaching

Professional Knowledge and Skills

Commitment and Motivation

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Reflection & Observation

Reflection: What were the characteristics of the most effective teachers in your educational experience?

Observation: What characteristics of effective teaching are evident in this video clip of a first grade teacher?
2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Effective Teaching
Professional Knowledge and Skills

Effective Teachers:

Exhibit subject matter competence Implement appropriate instructional strategies Set high goals for themselves and students Plan for instruction Create developmentally appropriate instructional materials and activities Manage classrooms for optimal learning
Cont
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Effective Teaching
Professional Knowledge and Skills

Effective Teachers:

Use effective strategies to promote students motivation to learn Communicate well with students and parents Pay More than Lip Service to Individual Variations Work effectively with students from culturally diverse backgrounds Have good assessment skills Integrate technology into the curriculum
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Effective Teaching
Professional Knowledge and Skills

Effective Teachers:

Have a Good Attitude Care about Students Invest Time and Effort Bring a Positive Attitude and Enthusiasm to the Classroom

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Characteristics of Best Teachers

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Characteristics of Worst Teachers

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Educational Psychology: A Tool for Effective Teaching

Research in Educational Psychology Why Research Is Important
Program Evaluation Research, Action Research, and the Teacher-asResearcher

Research Methods

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Why is educational psychology research important?

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Scientific Research Approach

The scientific research approach is objective, systematic, and testable
STEP 4 Revise Research Conclusions & Theory

STEP 3 Draw Conclusions STEP 2 Collect Information STEP 1 Conceptualize the Problem
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Research Methods
Descriptive Research Observations

Laboratory Naturalistic observation Participant observation

Interviews and questionnaires Standardized tests Case studies Ethnographic Studies

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Research Methods
Correlational Research

Experimental Research

measures the strength of a relation between two variables does NOT establish causal relation

random assignment experimental vs. control groups independent vs. dependent variables

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Possible Explanations of Correlational Data

Observed correlation Possible explanations for this correlation
Permissive teaching causes causes Childrens lack of self-control

As permissive teaching increases,

childrens self-control decreases

Childrens lack of self-control

Other factors, such as genetic tendencies, poverty, or sociohistorical circumstances

Permissive teaching
Permissive teaching

cause both

and Childrens lack of self-control

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Experimental Research
Independent variable: The manipulated, influential experimental factor Dependent variable: The factor that is measured in an experiment Control group: A comparison group, no manipulation Experimental group: The group whose experience is manipulated Random assignment: Participants are assigned by chance
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Experimental Research
A study of the effects of time management on students grades
Participants randomly assigned to experimental and control groups

Experimental Group
(time management program)

Control Group
(no time management program)

Students grades in school

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Time Span of Research

Cross-sectional

Longitudinal

Studying groups of people at one time Researcher doesnt have to wait until subjects grow older Provides no information about the stability of data over time

Studying the same individuals over time Evaluates how children change over time Time consuming and costly

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Program Evaluation, Action Research, and Teacher-As-Researcher

Program Evaluation: Designed to make decisions about a particular program

Action Research: Used to solve a particular classroom or school problem Teacher-As-Researcher: Teachers conduct their own studies to improve their teaching

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Enter the Debate

Should teachers conduct research using their students as subjects?
YES NO

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Research Challenges
Ethics

Researchers protect participants from mental and physical harm. Participants give informed consent. In the past, conclusions on females have been drawn from research done on males.

Gender

Ethnicity and Culture

Ethnic gloss, the use of an ethnic label to describe an ethnic group, leads to overgeneralizations and stereotyping when examining certain groups.
2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Being a Wise Consumer of Information About Educational Psychology

Be cautious of what is reported in the popular media. Know how to avoid drawing conclusions about individual needs on the basis of group research. Recognize how easy it is to over generalize about a small or clinical sample.

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Being a Wise Consumer of Information About Educational Psychology

Be aware that a single study usually is not the defining word. Remember that causal conclusions cannot be drawn from correlational studies. Always consider the source of the information and evaluate its credibility.

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Crack the Case

The Curriculum Decision
1.

How would you go about engaging in the research necessary to make a good decision regarding what curriculum to purchase?
What issues need to be considered? Why? What type of research would be appropriate? Why?
Cont...

2. 3.

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Crack the Case

The Curriculum Decision
4.

If Mrs. Jefferson and her colleagues decide to conduct an experimental study in which they compare the influence of two different curricula on student achievement, what would the independent variable be?

2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.