PSY 1800 - Developmental Educational Psychology

3(3 + 0)

Prerequisite: Minimum performance standard scores on the reading, writing and mathematics preassessment placement tests

The course focuses on how developmental and educational psychology can be used to better understand how to teach children. Emphasis is placed on milestones of child development (physical, social-emotional, cognitive and psycholinguistic) birth to adolescence, and the influence of the family, peers, and school on development during the preschool and elementary school years. Special emphasis is placed on cognitive development and learning and the specific cognitive requirements of formal instruction in schools. Students study the major psychological theories of learning and instruction. Research based approaches to effective teaching and how to set age and developmentally appropriate expectations for children are a primary focus. The role of assessment in the learning process and a number of assessment techniques are discussed from a psychological vantage point. Observations of children and of the learning/teaching process in classrooms are a required part of the class and provide experience in the application of course concepts.Restrictions: Course restricted to teacher licensure students in early childhood and elementary education only. Students may not substitute PSY 2110 for PSY 1800. Students may not receive credit for both PSY 1800 and PSY 2110.(General Studies—Level II, Social Sciences)