1. Educational Psychology & Teacher Decision Making
Chapter One
Educational Psychology: Developing Learners 6th edition
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod

2. Educational Psychology
What is educational psychology?
A discipline that encompasses the nature of learning, development, motivation, diversity, and assessment
Specifically applicable to classroom practice
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

3. Teaching as Decision Making
Teachers are continually choosing strategies to help students learn, develop, and achieve
Wise decisions rely on good research
Decisions can influence students’ learning, development, and long-term success
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

4. Types of Research Studies
Descriptive Studies
Describe things and situations
Allow us to draw conclusions about the current state of affairs
“How many students are involved in extracurricular activities?”
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

5. Types of Research Studies
Correlational Studies
Explore possible relationships among variables
Allow predictions about one variable if the status of the other variable is known
“Do students involved in extracurricular activities have higher grades than those students not involved in extracurricular activities?”
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

6. Types of Research Studies
Experimental Studies
Attempt to discover a cause-and-effect relationship among variables
Independent variable is manipulated by the researcher to possibly discover an effect on the dependent variable
“Will joining two extracurricular activities impact students’ grades?”
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

7. Theories in Classroom Decision Making
A theory is an integrated set of concepts and principles that explains a particular phenomenon
Often the result of descriptive, correlational, and experimental studies
As additional data are discovered, theories are continually expanded and modified
A theory can help explain and predict a phenomenon
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

8. Importance of Assessment
Assessment is more than tests, quizzes, papers, etc…
Assessment should occur in other contexts as well
Playground, field trips, extracurricular activities, etc….
Regular assessments & observations provide valuable insights into students’ learning, development, and motivation
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

9. Diversity in the Classroom
Teachers should take diversity into account when identifying teaching strategies
Recognize that all students are unique individuals
Be sensitive to group differences
Be sensitive to individual differences
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition

10. Developing as a Teacher
Continue to take courses in teacher education
Learn as much as you can about your subject
Increase your pedagogical content knowledge
Continue to reflect and critically examine your own beliefs and assumptions
Believe that you can make a difference in students’ lives (self-efficacy)
Learn as much as you can about the culture(s) of the community in which you are teaching
Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Jeanne Ellis Ormrod Educational Psychology: Developing Learners, sixth edition