by Mostafa Kh, Ewees by Mostafa Kh, Ewees

Educational Psychology: A Tool for Effective

Teaching

2

1. Describe some basic ideas about the field of educational psychology.

2. Identify the attitudes and skills of an effective teacher.

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

Exploring Educational Psychology

Teaching: Art

and Science Historical

Background

is a branch of psychology that

specializes in understanding

teaching and learning in educational settings.

1850 1875 195019251900

William James

John Dewey

E. L. Thorndike

Emphasized the importance of observing teaching and learning in

the classroom for improving education

Viewed the child as an active learner

Emphasized the child’s adaptation to the environment

Pushed for competent education for all children

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

Leta Hollingworth (1916) - First to use the term gifted to describe students who scored exceptionally high on IQ tests.

George Sanchez (1932) - Researcher who demonstrated that intelligence tests were culturally biased against minority children.

Mamie and Kenneth Clark (1939) - Pioneering researchers who studied African American children’s self-conceptions and identity.

B.F. Skinner (1938) Psychology as the science of

observable behavior and controlling conditions

1950s programmed learning

1950s Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Skills

1980s Cognitive Psychology memory, thinking, reasoning – to help student learn

How is teaching both art and science?

Effective Teaching

Commitment and

Motivation

ProfessionalKnowledge and

Skills

Reflection: What were the

characteristics of the most effective teachers in your educational experience?

Effective Teachers: Exhibit subject matter competence Implement appropriate instructional

strategies Set high goals for themselves and students

and plan for instruction Create developmentally appropriate

instructional materials and activities Manage classrooms for optimal learning

Cont…

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

Effective Teachers: Have a good attitude Care about students Invest time and effort Bring a positive attitude and

enthusiasm to the classroom

Characteristics of Best Teachers

Characteristics of Worst Teachers

Research in Educational Psychology

Why Research Is Important

Program Evaluation

Research, Action Research, and the

Teacher-as- Researcher

Research Methods

The scientific research approach is objective, systematic, and testable.

STEP 1Conceptualize the Problem

STEP 2Collect Information

STEP 3Draw Conclusions

STEP 4Revise Research

Conclusions & Theory

Descriptive ResearchObservations

LaboratoryNaturalistic observationParticipant observation

Interviews and questionnairesStandardized tests

Cont…

Descriptive ResearchCase studiesEthnographic Studies Focus GroupsPersonal Journals and Diaries

Correlational Research

Measures the strength of a relation between two variables

Does NOT establish causal relation

Experimental Research

Random assignment Experimental vs.

control groups Independent vs.

dependent variables

Observed correlationObserved correlation Possible explanations for this correlationPossible explanations for this correlation

As permissiveteaching increases,children’s

self-controldecreases

As permissiveteaching increases,children’s

self-controldecreases

Permissiveteaching

Permissiveteaching

Children’s lack of self-control

Children’s lack of self-control

Children’s lackof self-controlChildren’s lackof self-control

Permissiveteaching

Permissiveteaching

causes

causes

Other factors,such as genetic

tendencies,poverty, or

sociohistoricalcircumstances

Other factors,such as genetic

tendencies,poverty, or

sociohistoricalcircumstances

Permissiveteaching

Permissiveteaching

cause

bothChildren’s lackof self-controlChildren’s lackof self-control

and

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.

A study of the effects of time management on students’ grades

Participants randomly assignedto experimental and control groupsParticipants randomly assigned

to experimental and control groups

Students’grades in school

Students’grades in school

ExperimentalGroup

(time managementprogram)

ExperimentalGroup

(time managementprogram)

Control Group(no time management

program)

Control Group(no time management

program)

Studying groups of people at one time

Researcher doesn’t 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

Cross-sectional Longitudinal

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.

Should teachers conduct research using their students as subjects?

YES NO

1. What issues would need to be considered in conducting such a study?

2. What type of research would be most appropriate? Why?

3. If she compared the two different curricula and their outcomes, what would the independent variable be?

Cont...

4. If she compared the two different curricula and their outcomes, what would the dependent variable be?

5. How should Ms. Huang go about conducting her study?