Focus will be on skills training and applications of models and techniques. Demonstrations of applications and processes in teaching classroom content will be available. Emphasis is on their use in teaching the regular curriculum. The cognitive psychology underlying the processes is studied along with relevant research findings. Critical thinking processes which are explored include deductive and inductive reasoning, questioning, problem solving and decision making.
Emphasis is on the integration of thinking skills and classroom content.
Jr st or above. This course is designed to help educators gain an understanding of the developmental and psychoacademic needs of students, analyze educational practices that may undermine the fulfillment of these needs in traditional classrooms, and explore structural changes and instructional strategies that support the needs of all students, thereby increasing their motivation to learn in school. Focus is on the changes of adolescence with special attention given to the biological, cognitive, social and emotional systems. This course is designed to help educators comprehend and apply the fundamental psychological principles underlying the teacher-learning process. Among the areas considered are motivation, classroom management, instructional applications, individual differences and creativity.