1. 🌟 Why This Matters
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Teaching = Art + Science.
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Educational Psychology = the science behind effective teaching.
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Question for you: Think of your favorite teacher — what made them great?
2. 🎯 Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
✔ Define educational psychology.
✔ Connect major theories (Piaget, Vygotsky, Dewey, etc.) to classroom practice.
✔ Explain why research is better than relying only on intuition.
✔ Identify how motivation, development, and differences impact teaching.
✔ Recognize careers linked to educational psychology.
3. 🧠 What is Educational Psychology?
Definition:
👉 The scientific study of how people learn and develop in educational settings, and how to apply that knowledge to improve teaching and learning.
It answers questions like:
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How can I motivate students?
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Why do some students understand better with certain methods?
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How do I know if students are really learning?
Quick Activity (Think–Pair–Share):
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Think: What’s one classroom challenge you’ve seen or faced?
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Pair & Share: Discuss with a partner.
4. ⏳ Historical Foundations (Timeline)
| Theorist | Core Idea | Classroom Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| William James | Connect learning to students’ lives | Use real-life examples |
| John Dewey | Learning by doing | Projects, debates, problem-solving |
| E.L. Thorndike | Rewards strengthen learning (Law of Effect) | Use positive feedback |
| Jean Piaget | Children build knowledge in stages | Developmentally appropriate tasks |
| Lev Vygotsky | Learning is social (ZPD, scaffolding) | Group work, peer tutoring |
5. 🛠 Why Theories Matter for Teachers
| If you understand… | You can… |
|---|---|
| Development (Piaget) | Match lessons to student abilities |
| Social context (Vygotsky) | Use collaboration effectively |
| Motivation | Build student drive beyond compliance |
| Individual differences | Differentiate instruction |
| Assessment | Use ongoing checks, not just final exams |
6. 🔬 The Science of Learning
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Correlational Research: Finds relationships (⚠️ but correlation ≠ causation).
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Experimental Research: Tests cause-and-effect using control groups.
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Action Research: Teachers investigate their own classrooms to improve practice.
7. 🎓 Careers Using Educational Psychology
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Classroom Teacher
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School Psychologist
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Instructional Designer
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Educational Consultant
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Academic Researcher
8. ✨ Key Takeaways
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Educational psychology = the science of learning.
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History provides practical strategies.
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Teaching = constant decision-making.
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Best teachers are research-informed, reflective learners.
9. 💬 Discussion Prompts
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Debate: Is classroom experience more valuable than research?
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Scenario: Why can’t 4th graders have a logical debate yet? (Piaget)
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Application: How could ZPD guide your essay feedback?
10. 📚 Resources for You
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Book: Why Don’t Students Like School? — Daniel Willingham
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YouTube: Crash Course Psychology & Education
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Podcast: The Learning Scientists
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Journal: Educational Psychologist
✍ Reflection Box:
What’s one principle you’ll apply in your own future teaching?
