Educational Psychology: A Focus On Teaching and Learning in School Settings

3 units

How should research in educational psychology inform teaching in contemporary schools - and how might the lived experience of professional educators in turn inform research in educational psychology? This class uses the reciprocal relationship between educational theory and practice to examine key issues in teaching and learning in contemporary school settings. Throughout, students will gain greater familiarity with topics influencing the pedagogical decision-making of teachers, from everyday topics (e.g. differentiation, classroom management, developmental appropriateness, etc.) to topics gaining ground in contemporary education (e.g. culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed pedagogy, poverty-informed pedagogy, etc.). By engaging with substantive texts representing diverse perspectives, students will become more comfortable navigating scholarly research on teaching and learning in school settings, including distinguishing between multiple forms of scholarship (e.g. qualitative and quantitative studies, action research, self-study, portraiture, etc.) and other forms of writing about education (e.g. memoirs, advice based on personal experience, op-eds by thought leaders, etc.). Students will also theorize about reasons for gaps between educational research and practice by drawing on their knowledge of the sociocultural, political, and historical contexts of schooling. Ultimately, students will become more able to articulate their reasoned perspectives as emerging professionals regarding best practices for meaningful teaching and learning in school settings.