Chapter 1

Question 1

Educational Psychology

Answer 1

The branch of psychology that specializes in understanding teaching and learning in educational settings.

Question 2

William James

Answer 2

• Is a Functionalist
• Focuses on the purpose of consciousness and behaviour.
• Limits: does not focus on HOW to teach effectively
• Wrote the first psychology test called the “Principles of Psychology”.
• Emphasizes observing teaching + learning in classrooms to improve education.
• Created the Zone of Proximal Development (PD)

Question 3

Zone of Proximal Development

Answer 3

Believes that the lesson must be just beyond a child’s current knowledge.

• Centre: what a child can do independently.
• Middle: Zone of PD
• Outside: Can’t learn yet

Question 4

John Dewey

Answer 4

• Driving force of the ‘Practical Application of Psychology’.
• Viewed the child as an active learner.
• Children learn the best by doing.
• Focuses on the whole child.
• Believed that education was for everyone.
• Established the first major educational psychology lab in the US.

Question 5

E.L Thorndike

Answer 5

• Is a behaviourist.
• Emphasizes the assessment and measurement of learning.
• Learning is a science.
• Educational psychology must have a scientific base.
• Believes that education should focus on developing reasoning skills.
• Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Question 6

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Answer 6

He placed cats in a puzzle box where they were rewarded with food (and freedom) when they solved the puzzle.

• Behaviours followed by favourable consequences become more likely.
• Behaviours followed by un-favourable consequences become less likely.

Question 7

Mamie + Kenneth Clark

Answer 7

African American pioneering researchers who studied African American children’s self-conceptions and identity.

Question 8

Kenneth Clark:

Answer 8

First African American president of the APA.

Question 9

George Sanchez

Answer 9

A latino researcher who demonstrated that intelligence tests were culturally biassed against minority children.

Question 10

Leta Hollingsworth

Answer 10

A female researcher who was the first to use the term gifted to describe students who scored exceptionally high on intelligence tests.

Question 11

Behaviourism

Answer 11

Studies observable behaviour.

• Environment = Human Behaviour

Question 12

B.F Skinner

Answer 12

• Skinner built his research on Thorndike’s ideas.
• Defined psychology as “the science of observable behaviour + controlling conditioning.”
• Created ‘Programmed Learning’.

Question 13

Programmed Learning

Answer 13

Where reinforcement is given after a series of steps until the learning goal was reached.

Question 14

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 14

The study of internal mental processes.

• ex. memory, perception, language use, problem solving, creativity, thinking, attention, and learning.

Very important when it comes to learning.

Question 15

Blooms Taxonomy of Cognitive Skills

Answer 15

A framework for categorizing educational goals.

• Creating, Evaluating, Analyzing, Applying, Understanding, and Remembering.

Question 16

Creating (Blooms)

Answer 16

Combining parts to make a new whole.

Question 17

Evaluating (Blooms)

Answer 17

Judging the value of information or ideas through checking and critiquing.

Question 18

Analyzing (Blooms)

Answer 18

• Breaking down information into component parts.
• Determine how the parts relate to each other and/or to something.

Question 19

Applying (Blooms)

Answer 19

Applying the facts, rules, concepts, and ideas.

Question 20

Understanding (Blooms)

Answer 20

Understanding what the facts mean.

Question 21

Remembering (Blooms)

Answer 21

Recognizing and recalling facts.

Question 22

Research

Answer 22

• Provides us with valid information about the best ways to teach children at each developmental level.
• Allows us to be objective + gain personal experience.
• 3 Basic Research Methods: Descriptive, Correlational, and Experimental

Question 23

Descriptive Research

Answer 23

Aims to describe your research.

• ex. observations, case study.

Question 24

Correlational Research

Answer 24

Measures the relationship (strength) between two variables.

• ex. as permissive teaching increases, children’s self control decreases.

Question 25

Experimental Research

Answer 25

Goal is to identify the factors that cause behaviour to change.

• Able to determine cause.
• Independent + dependent variables.
• Experimental + Control groups.
• Random assignment.

Question 26

Independent Variable

Answer 26

The manipulated, influential, and experimental factor.

Question 27

Dependent Variable

Answer 27

The factor that is measured in an experiment.

Question 28

Control Group

Answer 28

In an experiment, a group whose experience is treated in every way like the experimental group.

• EXCEPT for the manipulated factor.

Question 28

Experimental Group

Answer 28

The group whose experience is manipulated.

Question 29

Random Assignment

Answer 29

The assignment of participants to experimental and control groups by chance.

Question 30

Program Evaluated Research

Answer 30

Research designed to make decisions about the effectiveness of a particular program.

Question 31

Action Research

Answer 31

Research used to solve a specific classroom or school problem.

• Improve teaching and other educational strategies, or make a decision at a specific location.

Question 32

Teacher-as-Researcher

Answer 32

Involves classroom teachers conducting their own studies to improve their teaching practice.

• Also called teacher-researcher.

Question 33

Quantitative Research

Answer 33

Uses numerical calculations in an effort to discover information about a particular topic.

• Includes experimental and correlational research designs.

Question 34

Qualitative

Answer 34

Information gathered using descriptive methods.

• Includes interviews, case studies, focus groups, and personal journals and diaries.

Question 35

Mixed Research Methods

Answer 35

Blends different research designs or methods.

Question 36

Ethnographic Study

Answer 36

An in-depth description and interpretation of behaviour in an ethnic or a cultural group that includes direct involvement with the participants.

Question 37

Effective Teachers

Answer 37

• Exhibit subject-matter competence.
• Implement appropriate instructional strategies.
• Model and communicate good thinking skills.
• Set high goals for themselves and students and organize plans for reaching those goals.
• Create developmentally appropriate instructional materials and activities.
• Manage classrooms for optimal learning
  Intentional design, reflection, development.
• 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 knowledge and skills.
• Integrate technology into the curriculum.
• Have a good attitude.
• Care about students.
• Invest time and effort.
• Have confidence in their 
own self-efficacy.
• Bring positive attitudes and 
enthusiasm to the classroom.
• Success breeds success … the better teacher you become, the more rewarding your work will be.

Question 38

Worst Teachers

Answer 38

• Are dull/have a boring class
• Don’t explain things clearly
• Show favouritism toward students
• Have a poor attitude
• Expect to much work from students
• Give too much homework
• Are too strict
• Don’t give help/individual attention
• Lack control