Study Questions for Week 1
Introduction
IN1. Why study educational psychology? What is its relevance to the study of teaching and learning?
IN2. What is the relationship between education and schooling?
IN3. What is the relationship between teaching and learning? Can one happen without the other? How? Why?
Education for Life
EL1. What does Whitehead mean by the “rhythms of education?” Describe the stages he proposes. How might you apply this concept in your teaching?
EL2. How might schools apply the concept of “harmony of patterns” in the development of curriculum and learning activities? Would this be a significant change from what we now see in PreK-12 schooling?
EL3. Whitehead suggests that a primary aim of education is the “marriage of thought and action.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? In your opinion, is this a primary goal of modern schooling? (Give an example to support your view).
Research
RS1. What is the scientific method and why do we use it to study the teaching/learning process?
RS2. What is a paradigm and why is it important in one’s approach to discerning truth (i.e., what is the importance of one’s worldview when discerning facts and organizing concepts and principles)?
RS3. How is the scientific method similar to and different from other ways of discerning truth (i.e., experience, intuition, religion, philosophy)? What advantages or disadvantages do you perceive resulting from the exclusive use of the scientific method for discerning truth?
RS4. Define and relate the following hierarchies: fact, concept, principle, theory, law; knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation.
RS5. Write a one paragraph explanation of your view of human nature.
Types of Studies
TS1. What would be some good questions that could be addressed using a descriptive study? What would you be trying to find out? Have you every done a descriptive research study as an educator? Was it a successful study?
TS2. When would you want to do a correlational study? What are some advantages and disadvantages of this type of study? Give some examples of the types of questions one might ask that a correlational study might answer? Give an example from a research study you know about that exemplifies a correlational study.
TS3. When would you want to do an experimental study? What are some advantages and disadvantages of this type of study? Give some examples of the types of questions one might ask that an experimental study might answer? Give an example from a research study that exemplifies the experimental study? Why is this type of study not done more often in education?
TS4. Write a one paragraph description of a study you believe would address an important issue in education and/or schooling and describe the most important threat to internal validity for that study.
Study Questions for Week 2
Overview of Assessment Issues
OA1. Should we be more concerned about learning, maturation or development when we address school learning? Why is this discussion an important issue?
OA2. What is the difference between aptitude and achievement? With which of these should the educational system be more concerned? Why?
OA3. Reliability and validity are important issues in all aspects of school. How are these dealt with in instruction, assessment, and evaluation?
OA4. How much emphasis should we place on formative and summative assessments when assigning grades? Why?
OA5. Should teachers use norm-referenced standards when evaluating classroom learning?
Basic Concepts of Complexity Science
CS1. What is a system and why do the concepts of complexity science apply to human beings?
CS2. What is emergence and why is this an important concept in complexity science?
CS3. How would you apply the four good rules of complexity organizations to your workplace?
CS4. How can the systems model of human behavior presented in class help educators in their professional roles? What are the advantages over a simple listing of competing learning theories? What are the disadvantages?
Systems/Transactional Model of Human Behavior
ST1. What is the focus of this model? How is that different from the Model of the Teaching/Learning Process?
ST2. What is the value of considering the human being from the perspective of body, mind and spirit?
ST3. What are some implications of considering mind in terms of cognition, affect, and conation? What are some possible implications for the Model of the Teaching/Learning Process?
ST4. Why are family, school, religious organizations, and peer groups considered as the first level of context? What are some implications for educators?
Becoming a Brilliant Star
BBS1. What is the basic concept of the Brilliant Star model? Do you agree that it is an important concept? Why or why not?
BBS2. What is the difference between personal capital and social capital? Is this an important distinction? Why or why not?
BBS3. Huitt proposes that a human being’s spiritual nature, his or her moral character, as well as personal style are core elements for describing human nature. Do you agree with that proposal? Why or why not?
BBS4. In addition to the core elements, Huitt proposes two sets of competencies, one set more internally-oriented and the other more externally-oriented. Is this an important distinction? Why or why not?
BBS5. What is the role of the classroom teacher, school counselor, or school administrator in producing an effective developmental ecology? Who else has similar responsibilities?
Study Questions for Week 3
A Paradigm Shift
PS1. Why is the movement to the information age from the agricultural/industrial age so important? Some people say the next shift is to the imagination age. Why would they say that? Do you agree?
PS2. Name the most important trend (other than the movement to the information age) that you believe will impact life in the 21st century. State why you believe this to be so. How will this impact important knowledge, attitudes, and skills of students? What is one thing educators can do to help student acquire these?
PS3. There are now as many "teachers" in business, industry, and government as there are in the public K-12 system. Why is this happening and what are its implications for K-12 teachers?
PS4. How have you begun to prepare yourself for teaching in the information age? What books or articles have you read? What seminars or conferences have you taken? What courses have you taken? What experiences have you sought out? Is this working? Are you acquiring the necessary knowledge, attitudes, and skills? What else do you need to do?
Emerging Paradigm
EP1. Elgin and LeDrew propose human beings interact with three different ecologies. Do you agree with their assessment? Why or why not? How does their view relate to the systems model of human behavior and Becoming a Brilliant Star discussed previously?
EP2. These authors suggest a “reflective/living-systems paradigm” is developing. Do you see any evidence for this paradigm among your family, friends, or local community? Give examples.
EP3. Five indicators (or micro trends) are suggested as signs that the overall trend of global consciousness is occurring. Do you see any of these in your interactions with family, friends, or acquaintances? Would you like to; would you see these as desirable? Why or why not?
EP4. Do you believe launching a study circle in your school to discuss these issues would be valuable? Would it be a small or large group if you did? What might be some advantages or disadvantages of launching such an effort?
SCANS Report Revisited
SRR1. Why is the SCANS report an important document? Do you agree with the major catagories of Foundations and Competenices? How have you, your school or your discipline begun to address these?
SRR2. Do you agree or disagree with my critique of the SCANS report? Are there important knowledge, attitudes or skills that are not in the SCANS report or my critique? Which one of the additional items in my critique do you believe to be most important for success in the 21st century?
SRR3. What is/are the appropriate roles for the school, family and community to take in helping students develop in ways that are not measured on a standardized test of basic skills? Are these being addressed in your community and school system? If so, how? If not, what should be done?
Study Questions for Week 4
Make an original post for a self-concept/self-esteem question and one for the personal attributes question.
Self-concept and Self-esteem
SC1. What is meant by the term "self?" What is self-concept? How does it relate to self-esteem? To self-determination? To self-control?
SC2. William James proposed that self-esteem = success/pretensions; in more modern language this might be expressed as achievement/expectations. Do you agree with this formulation? Why or why not?
SC3. How do self-concept and self-esteem relate to academic achievement? Is there a correlational or causal relationship? What can teachers do to improve students' academic self-concepts?
SC4. What is the relationship between self-image and self-ideal? When there is a discrepancy, what are some possible results?
SC5. Describe some of the important factors of the construction of self-concept and self-esteem during early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence.
SC6. Describe three characteristics of qualities of self-concept that are important for educators? Based on your knowledge of self-concept, what is one activity you could use to boost self-esteem, especially as it relates to academic performance?
Measures of Personal Attributes
PA1. Describe one of the measures of self, your scores on that measure, and the implications for your role as an educator.
Study Questions for Week 5
The Brain
On “The Brain From Top To Bottom” website, there are three different categories used to organize the material: (1) level of explanation; (2) level of organization; and (3) sub-topics of anatomy and function.
BR1. Explore “The Brain From Top To Bottom” website. Select at least two different levels of explanation and write a short discussion of your exploration. What did you see? What did you learn?
BR2. Explore “The Brain From Top To Bottom” website. Select at least two different levels of organization and write a short discussion of your exploration. What did you see? What did you learn?
BR3. Explore “The Brain From Top To Bottom” website. Explore both the anatomy and function sub-topics for your preferred levels of explanation and organization and write a short discussion of your exploration. What did you see? What did you learn?
Physical Development
PD1. Should an individual’s physical development be of concern to parents and teachers? Justify your answer.
PD2. What are some of the benefits of physical activity on a person’s overall level of fitness? As a role model for children and youth, describe some of the fitness activities in which you engage.
PD3. Does your school (or workplace) address the issue of physical fitness? How? What suggestions can you make to improve this component of your school’s educational program?
Nutrition
NTR1. Define and give examples of the brain’s macrostructure, microstructure, and operation, giving examples of how nutrition can impact each.
NTR2. Several studies have shown that dietary supplements are only effective as long as they continue (i.e, they do not have long-term, permanent impact). Why might this be true?
NTR3. Briefly describe the relationship of one of the following on children’s development: iodine, iron, zinc, B vitamins, or Omega-3. What can parents and teachers do to diagnose and impact deficiencies in the one you discuss?
Study Questions for Week 6
Paradigms of Instructional Technology
PIT1. What does Kuhn mean by a paradigm and a paradigm shift? How do theories of learning and development fit this definition of paradigm?
PIT2. Koschmann makes the case that instructional technology paradigms are merely expressions of a more general paradigm of instruction based on learning theory paradigms. Do you agree? Why or why not?
PIT3. Based on this analysis, what do you believe to be the dominant instructional paradigm in your school? What evidence can you provide for your opinion?
The Behavioral Approach to Learning
BA1. What is the basic assumption of the behavioral approach to learning? How is this basic assumption reflected in the three major claims of behaviorism? Do you agree or disagree with the assumption and claims? Provide support for your statement.
BA2. What is your opinion as to why did the behavioral approach catch on so quickly in American culture, but not in Europe? What are some major advantages of this approach? Disadvantages?
BA3. Briefly describe and differentiate methodological behaviorism, psychological behaviorism, and analytical behaviorism. Based on your current understanding, which do you believe has the most impact on your work as a professional educator?
BA4. Do you agree with Skinner’s social worldview? Why or why not?
BA5. Based on your current understanding, do you more subscribe to the behaviorist or anti-behaviorist position? Support your answer.
Operant Conditioning
OC1. What is the basic assumption of operant conditioning? Is this correct for human as well as animal learning? Support your answer.
OC2. Describe the differences between reinforcement and punishment. Between positive and negative reinforcement. Between positive reinforcement and response cost.
OC3. What happens when you move from a fixed schedule to a variable schedule? Which is the more appropriate at the initial stages of learning?
OC4. What happens when you move from an interval schedule to a ratio schedule? Which is the most often used in schools today? What is the result?
Using the Principles
UP1. Give some examples of how the behavioral approach can be used to enhance school learning.
Study Questions for Week 7
Perceptual Processing
PP1. What is the difference between direct and indirect perception? Is this an important distinction? Why or why not?
PP2. What might be some advantages and disadvantages of direct perception? How can educators use these during the teaching/learning process?
An Overview of the Cognitive Approach
OC1. What is the basic assumption of the cognitive approach to learning? Why do behaviorists not accept this assumption? Is this an appropriate assumption for human learning?
The Stage Theory of Information Processing
ST1. What is the basic assumption of the stage theory of memory? How does this compare with the basic assumption of the level-of-processing theory? What are the implications of each model?
ST2. What is the effect of attention on perceptual processing? What can educators do to enhance attention?
ST3. What is the difference between sensory memory and short-term memory? Between short-term and long-term memory? Which of these are educators most interested in and why?
ST4. Name and discuss the different organizations of information and knowledge in long-term memory? What are the implications of these different organizations for educators?