Welcome to Block II:
Every Moment Counts
Applying Psychology to Teaching
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Inclusion Activity: Two Truths
and a Lie
 write down two things that are true about
yourself.
 Write one thing that is not true.
 Take turns guessing which statement is a lie
as each person reads their statements.
 Others give reasons for their predictions of
each lie statement.
 Participants “confess” their lies and explain
why it could not be true.
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Overview
 What is educational psychology?
 How will learning about educational psychology
help you be a better teacher?
 The nature and values of science
 Complicating factors in the study of behavior and
thought processes
 Reflective teaching: A process to help you grow
and improve as a teacher
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What Is Educational Psychology
 Educational psychology is…
 “A scientific discipline that is
concerned with understanding
and improving how students
acquire a variety of
capabilities through instruction
in classroom settings” (p. 4).
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Educational Psychology
is the scientific discipline that
addresses the questions
“Why do some students learn
more than others?”
andto improve that
“What can be done
learning?”
Threatening Kids with RED
PEN-/failure
Using Test Results as only
source of testing for ability
Not providing
parents with
appropriate
alternatives
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What do Educational Psychologist
do?
 Educational psychologists study how students
learn in classrooms
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Physical, cognitive, psychosocial development
Cultural, social, emotional, and intellectual
differences
Learning and problemsolving processes
Testing and measurement
Self-esteem
Motivation
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Why is Research Important?
 Provides evidence that assists teachers to
make appropriate choices in the classroom
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Descriptive studies
Correlational Studies
Experimental studies
Action research
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Descriptive Studies
 A research method used to describe the
educational situation as it naturally occurs –
what typically happens, how teachers teach,
and how students learn and develop
 Example research question: “How do Ms.
Newby organize the physical layout of her
classroom?
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Correlational Studies
 A research method used to measure two
naturally occurring variables and summarize
the nature and magnitude of their relationship
in numerical form
 Example research question: “How is
measured intelligence related to school
achievement?”
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Experimental Studies
 A research method used to test for a cause-
and-effect relationship between two variables
 Example research question: “Is reading
program A better than reading program B for
teaching first graders to read?”
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Action Research
 A research method carried out by teachers in
their own classrooms to inform and refine
their personal theories of teaching and
classroom learning
 Example research question: “Do I ask boys
more questions than I ask girls?”
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How Will Learning About EdPsych
Help You Be a Better Teacher
1.
Teaching is complex work because it requires a
wide range of knowledge and skills

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Ranks in top quartile on complexity for all
occupations
Constantly making decisions; before, during, and
after instruction

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Requires a reservoir of knowledge and skills
EdPsych provides knowledge regarding...
learning and development, individual differences,
motivation, self-concept, assessment, classroom
management, and various approaches to
instruction
How Will Learning About EdPsych
Help You Be a Better Teacher
2.
Research in EdPsych offers many useful ideas
for improving classroom instruction
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Giving positive reinforcement/corrective feedback
Communicating expectations
Requiring higher-order responding
Monitoring and improving own learning efforts
Knowing misconceptions students bring to class
Creating learning situations (variety)
Showing student how to work in small groups
Accepting responsibility for student outcomes
How Will Learning About EdPsych
Help You Be a Better Teacher
3.
Teachers who have had professional training
are generally more effective

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Most beginning teachers rate their preparation
as adequate or well prepared
Grades in teacher-education courses better
indicator of success in teaching secondary
level than GPA or specialty area grades
Cases of dramatic improvements after taking
teacher-education courses
Take a Stand
 What Kind of Research Should Guide
Education?

See p. 15 in Every Moment Counts Textbook
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The Nature and Values of Science
 Unsystematic observation may
lead to false conclusions

When you make generalizations
and you try to explain it with
common sense or you gut feeling
you fail to recognize the
complexitities of teaching and
learning
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The Nature and Values of Science
 Grade retention policies are influenced
by unsystematic observation
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Retention rate (K-8) as high as 20% in U.S.
Likely to increase as under more accountability
laws enacted
Research clearly shows negative effects
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40-50% more likely to drop out
Lower self-concept and emotional adjustment
Low achievers learn more when promoted
Goal is to prevent need for retention
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Educational Psychology Matters
 What is a theory?

An intellectual framework that organizes a
vast amount of knowledge about a
phenomenon so that educators can
understand and explain better the nature of
that phenomenon
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Stage Theories
 There are hundreds of theories to explain
human development, learning, motivation,
and teaching.
 Through this course we will explore the
theories of:
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Jean Piaget
Sigmund Freud
Erik Erickson
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Learning Theories
 Behaviorism
 Information Processing
 Social Cognitive Theory
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Contextual Theories
 Lev Vygotsky
 Urie Bronfenbrenner
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What is Good Teaching
 www.myeducationlab
 Woolfolk Text
 Chapter 1
 Activity 3
 As you watch the video think about how your
personal experiences inform your vision of
yourself as a teacher.
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Reflective Teaching
 Reflective teachers possess:
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An introspective orientation
An open-minded but questioning attitude
about educational theories and practices
The willingness to take responsibility for
decisions and actions
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Ways to Become a Reflective
Teacher
 Use the readings from each chapter and
class discussions to gather ideas
 Use Chapter Responses to help reflect on
your own teaching experiences/ beliefs
 Analyze your biases and critically review your
own teaching practices
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Remember that Teaching is a Process
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
(T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets, 1969)
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