EPSY 5490 - EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

1.

Identification of Course 1.1

EPSY 5490: Educational Psychology Applied to Teaching. (3-2-1). Pre-requisites: Admission to graduate school and admission to an alternate post-baccalaureate certification program. Grades A-F awarded. Semesters offered: Spring

1.2

Required Textbook and PASS-Port Subscription: Textbook: Eggen, P., & Kauchak, D. (2010). Educational psychology: Windows on classrooms (8th ed.). Allyn and Bacon. ISBN: 978-0-13-610110-9 Audiobook: Kidder, T. (2008). Among Schoolchildren. Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD. ISBN: 9781423359166. An MP3 file can be purchased from iTunes.com. This gives you immediate access to the audiobook and is the least expensive option. Another option is to buy a CD from amazon.com with rush delivery. Supplementary Materials: Additional resources, readings, and/or references for this course provided throughout the semester as appropriate. These supplementary materials are generally posted in Moodle (or Blackboard) for this course. PASS-Port Policy: Each student must upload assigned artifacts to PASS-Port as a required component of this class. Since all students are required to maintain a current PASS-Port subscription, if all required field experiences and artifacts are not completed and entered into PASS-Port by the due date, the candidate will receive a grade of F in the course regardless of other grades.

Course Steward: Dr. Michelle Morris Syllabus Revision: January 2011

1

College of Education & Human Development Northwestern State University of LA

1.3

2.

General Information: Professor: Dr. Michelle Morris Office: Teacher Education Center, Pod B, Room 109 E-mail: [email protected] Phone number: 318-357-4252 (Not available by phone in summer) Availability: Through email and by appointment

Course Description 2.1

Catalog Description EPSY 5490. Educational Psychology Applied to Teaching. (3-2-1). Application of theoretical practices and current research related to teaching, classroom organization/management and assessment; dynamics of child/adolescent development/psychology related to instructional strategies and the diverse learner. Includes 15 hours of field experience. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate school and admission to an alternate post-baccalaureate certification program.

2.2

Justification/Rationale Teaching is a complex process that requires skillful handling of several factors simultaneously. The complexity of the teaching process and problems typically encountered by teachers can be handled effectively if teachers study behavioral, social, and cognitive learning approaches as well as child/adolescent development and their application in classrooms. This course not only introduces important knowledge about students and the teaching-learning process, but also provides a framework to convert conceptual knowledge into practical solutions. The course will provide support area/knowledge to the alternate teacher certification program.

3.

Goals and Objectives 3.1

Goals All candidates pursuing degrees in the College of Education and Human Development are expected to apply the principles of the conceptual framework, Models for Learning. Thus, objectives and learning activities in this course call upon candidates to take responsibility for their learning, to identify problems within specific areas, to arrive at


2


solutions using creative/critical thinking, and to reflect upon and evaluate decisions made in the course of their learning. For a copy of the Conceptual Framework document and link to the YouTube video, go to http://educationnsula.edu/conceptual-framework/. The specific goals of this course include: 3.1.1. 3.1.2.

3.2

Understand and apply the basic theories of child development Learn how to adapt instruction to meet students’ developmental needs

Objectives By completing the assignments and/or tasks of this course, each candidate will: Module 1:  Apply the principles of educational psychology to candidates' professional knowledge base (Chapter 1)  Describe the theories and processes involved in the development of cognition and language (Chapter 2)  Explain how children and adolescents experience personal, social, and moral development (Chapter 3)  Recognize and adapt instruction and classroom management to learner diversity and learners with exceptionalities (Chapters 4 & 5) Module 2:  Explain how students learn through behaviorism and social cognitive theory (Chapter 6)  Recall the cognitive views of learning and how students construct knowledge and engage in complex cognitive processes (Chapters 7, 8, & 9) Module 3:  Recall the theories of motivation and understand how they affect students' motivation in the classroom (Chapters 10 & 11)  Create a productive learning environment through effective classroom management, planning and instruction, assessment of classroom learning, and standardized testing (Chapters 12, 13, 14, & 15)

4.

Student Activities and Field Experiences


3


Disability Policy: It is the policy of NSU to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law, and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities. Any student with a disability who needs accommodations, for example in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Support, which is located in Student Union, Room 240-A, telephone 357-4460. NSU College of Education Online Civility Statement: Each Northwestern State University candidate is encouraged to help create an environment that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone in the online learning environment. Candidates should communicate online with respect, read and respond carefully to others in order to understand their point-of-view, take responsibility for their words, keep criticism constructive, respect diversity, and be tolerant of differences. Students who make others feel unwelcome, disrespected, harassed, use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others during the course may be asked to log off the online class and subjected to disciplinary action under the Northwestern State University Student Code of Conduct and Sanctions (Article VII Sanctions). The instructor of a course may deem additional behaviors or actions inappropriate; these actions or behaviors will be outlined in the course syllabus. Copies of the infractions and sanctions are available on the NSU web site at: http://www.nsula.edu/studenthandbook/page100.htm Definition of Diversity: Today members of our university Community are more likely to experience differences among people. Northwestern State University defines diversity as differences in age, gender, religion, language, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, exceptionalities, and geographic background. In our mission to acknowledge our differences, we also hope to realize our commonalities.

4.1

Assignments/Tasks    

Log into Blackboard on a weekly basis to check for announcements and complete assignments (RT) Check NSU email account weekly for important updates and reminders (RT) Complete all assignments before the deadlines listed in the course schedule (RT) Complete 15 hours of field experience (audiobook, observations in K-12 classrooms, and/or case studies), enter data into PASS-Port, and complete activities related to field experience hours, such as journals (DM, PS, CCT)


4


 

Demonstrate content mastery on assignments and tests (RT, DM, PS, CCT) Write a reflection paper related to the principles of educational psychology and activities from the course (RT, DM, PS, CCT) Key: creative and critical thinking (CCT), problem solving (PS), decision making (DM), and responsibility taking (RT)

4.2

Field-Based Observation Experiences Students are required to complete 15 hours of field experience. Failure to complete all 15 field experience hours will result in an automatic failure of the course.

5.

Content Outline 5.1

Course Calendar A course schedule with due dates will be posted in Blackboard. Once a due date passes, the Module and Lessons will be permanently closed and any incomplete coursework will receive a zero. The calendar is subject to change if deemed necessary.

6.

Evaluation Policies General University attendance and grading policies are located in the current General Catalog under the heading of Academic Regulations. Policies of this course are in compliance with University regulations. 6.1

Attendance Weekly attendance is required in this course. Attendance is defined as logging into Blackboard and PASS-Port and completing assignments before the due dates listed in the course schedule. Assignments will not be accepted for deadlines missed with an unexcused absence. It is the student's responsibility to inform the professor of his/her absence within 3 days of the absence. Attendance will be taken according to the following schedule: Initial Attendance: You should log into the course within the first 3 class days and actively explore the course content under each buttons.


5


Regular Attendance: You should log into the course at least 3 times spread throughout each week. Actively work on assignments during these times. Due Date Attendance: Attendance will be taken every time an assignment is due. Missing any assignment in the lessons will be counted as an absence. Drop Policy: You will be automatically removed from the course with a grade of X or F for missing 10% of the attendance schedule mentioned above in accordance with the University Catalog.

6.2.

Grading 6.2.1. Assignments: Assignments

Points

Activities and Assignments in Blackboard

150

Reflection Paper

50

Test 1 (Chapters 1-5)

100


100


100

Field-Experience hours

Pass/Fail and a 10 point deduction for each missed deadline 500

TOTAL POINTS 6.2.2. Grading Scale:

Grade A B C D F (permanently removed from your degree program)

Point Range 500-450 449-400 399-350 349-300 299-0

6.2.3. Grading Policies: 


Timely submission of all assignments is expected. All late assignments will receive a zero. You will be dropped from the course for missing assignments. Excused absences will be allowed with proper documentation within 3 days of the absence. 6





Computer problems are not a reason for an excused absence. Please make back-up plans at the beginning of the semester in case you experience computer problems.



Cheating on assignments, submitting work completed by others, and outright plagiarism will result in consequences ranging from the grade of “F” in the course to expulsion from the university and your graduate program. Turnitin is a computer program used in this course to ensure that plagiarism does not occur.



This course uses a current Blackboard site. The course instructor often posts extra activities and announcements. It is important that you login several times each week to check the assignments and announcements. Also, you need an active NSU email account that you check regularly.

7
