Educational Psychology and Differentiated Instruction

Course Description

Understanding and applying current theory and research addressing education psychology (child/adolescent development, learning theory and motivation) and differentiated instruction. Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program.

Syllabus

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • Identify diverse students’ learning strengths, needs, readiness, interests, and backgrounds, based on an understanding of issues relevant to child/adolescent development, learning theory, motivation, and differentiation.

  • Apply the principles of child and adolescent development, learning theory, motivation, and differentiated instruction to their work with students (e.g., tutoring, teaching…).

  • Develop a comprehensive, differentiated, integrated unit plan (based on the “Understanding by Design” model), supported by lesson plans that are skillfully differentiated per theory and research in child/adolescent development, learning theory, motivation, and differentiation.

  • Incorporate the use of technology into a unit plan as a tool for differentiating instruction to meet students’ needs.

  • Implement differentiated assessment strategies appropriate to diverse students, including pre-assessment, summative, formative, reflective/self, authentic, mastery, and performance assessment.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure

Percentage/Points

Unit Sketch

25%

Performance Assessment/Reflection

25%

Detailed Lesson Plan/Reflection

25%

Participation, Weekly Assignments & Reflections

25%

Attendance/Participation:

Not specified.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required for purchase.

Scholarly Perspectives

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.