Educational Psychology

Catalog description

In this course, students will understand and identify differences in approaches to learning and performance, including different learning styles, and ways students demonstrate learning. Students will explore how individual experiences, talents, disabilities, and prior learning influence learning. They will examine the impact of language, culture, family, and community values on learning and behavior. Students will examine successful models of collaboration with specialists and families to address students' exceptional learning needs. This course will also focus on formal and informal methods of assessing student learning to identify learner strengths and differentiate instruction for a wide variety of student needs to facilitate academic success as well as social and personal development. Course participants will learn, understand and utilize results of assessment and principles of curriculum development to plan instructional tasks appropriate to the needs of all students. They will explore the role of technology in diverse classrooms, and will learn to reflect on their own practices, act on feedback, and change what does not work. Fieldwork is required.