Educational Psychology Module (Master 1 Didactics)                                      

Course Objectives

• Introduce students to major theories in Educational Psychology.

• Develop understanding of the learning process, focusing on individual learner variables.

• Raise awareness of educational concerns within Behaviourist and Constructivist frameworks.

• Enhance knowledge of teaching skills related to affectivity and classroom management.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Gain an overview of Educational Psychology and its relevance in teaching.

• Apply Behaviourist and Constructivist theories in educational settings.

• Understand the role of affect in learning and motivation.

• Implement classroom management strategies to handle misbehavior effectively.

Prerequisites

• English proficiency and skill transfer capabilities.

• Basic cultural knowledge relevant to language teaching.

Course Content

Part One: Introduction to Educational Psychology

1. Main Definitions

2. Definition of Educational Psychology

3. The Joys of Teaching

4. Challenges to Teaching

5. New Trends in Education

   • Diversity in Students: social class, learning styles, cognitive and cultural differences

   • Using Technology to Support Learning

   • Accountability in Education

   • Increased Professionalism of Teachers

Part Two: The Learning Process: Perspectives, Theories, and Models

1. Teachers’ Perspectives on Learning

2. Major Theories and Models

   • Behaviourism

     • Respondent Conditioning

       • Extinction

       • Generalization

       • Discrimination

     • Operant Conditioning

   • Constructivism

     • Psychological Constructivism

     • Social Constructivism

Assessment

• Continuous Assessment: 40%

• Final Exam: 60%

References (APA style)

• Arnold, J. (1999). Affect in language learning. Cambridge University Press.

• Bailey, K., & Nunan, D. (1996). Voices from the language classrooms. Cambridge University Press.

• Brooks, G. J., & Brooks, M. G. (1993). Becoming a constructivist teacher. Retrieved from http://www-tc.pbs.org/teacherline/courses/inst335/docs/inst335_brooks.pdf

• Brophy, J. (2004). Motivating students to learn. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

• Brown, H. D. (1987). Principles of language learning and teaching (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall Regents.

• Brown, H. D. (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching (4th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.

• Chinn, A. C. (2011). Educational psychology: Understanding students’ thinking. Rutgers University.

• Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Teaching and researching motivation. Pearson Education Limited.

• Dörnyei, Z. (2005). The psychology of the language learner. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.