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EDUC 7018 - Psychological Theories of Education

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

Learning is central to education. Research in neuroscience is having an increasing impact on our understanding of learning. By looking at the brain, scientists are studying the very complex processes that underpin our memory, speech and language, thinking and reasoning, reading and mathematics. The course explores links between our own experiences as educators, various perspectives from cognitive psychology, and neuroscientific findings. It also addresses several 'neuromyths', where neuroscientific findings seem to have been extrapolated somewhat too far into educational practice.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code EDUC 7018
    Course Psychological Theories of Education
    Coordinating Unit School of Education
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assessment Reports 10%, Group presentation 20%, Essay (750-1000 words) 25%, Essay (2500-3000 words) 45%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Robert Matthews


    Dr Robert Matthews
    Senior Lecturer
    School of Education
    The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide
    Adelaide 5005
    South 最新糖心Vlog
    最新糖心Vlog
    Phone: +61 8 831 30488
    E-mail: robert.matthews@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1 Draw out links between neuroscience, psychology and education
    2 Discuss various psycholgical and neuroscientific views for their implications for learning and behaviour
    3 Demonstrate an understanding of how emotion and attention can affect learning and motivation
    4 Discuss and apply constructivist understandings to classroom practice
    5 Analyse the validity, and usefulness, of educational interventions which claim to be based on various neuroscientific and educational psychological findings
    6 Summarise the learning theory of an assigned educational psychologist and their application in the classroom
    7 Summarise the learning theory of an assigned aspect of neuroscience/cognitive psychology and its application in the classroom
    最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    4, 5, 6, 8

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5, 6, 8

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    3, 6, 9

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    2, 5, 8

    Attribute 6: 最新糖心Vlogn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, 最新糖心Vlogn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    7

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    1, 4, 10

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    4, 7, 9, 10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    A course reader will be supplied online through the MyUni system.
    Recommended Resources
    All of the following readings will be downloadable from MyUni

    Additional Neuroscience Readings:


    NEUROPLASTICITY

    Neuroplasticity Jacob 

    Neuroplasticity whole child approach



    MEMORY:

    Memory and the Brain Download Memory and the Brain, Chapter 2 of Schwartz, B. L. (2016).
    Memory: Foundations and Applications. United States: SAGE Publications.

    Unit plan for High School Psychology - has good applications (cite as url: https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/lessons/memory.pdf)

    Enhanced memory as a common effect of active learning. 

    Learning and memory under stress: implications for the classroo


    DIET

    Nutrition and Brain Health

    Diet and the Brain (Florida)

    Brain foods - the role of diet in brain performance and health



    EMOTIONS AND LEARNING

    The brain emotions and learning Download The brain emotions and learning(reference this as a website - link at bottom of first page)



    MOTIVATION

    motivation and neuroscience Harvard working paper


    LANGUAGE

    Neuroscience of Language Development

    Learning a Foreign Language in Adulthood using Principles of Neuroscience



    EARLY CHILD

    Neuroscience, Play and Early Childhood Education: Connections, Implications and Assessment



    ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

    The Adolescent Brain: A second window of opportunity



    GENDER DIFFERENCES

    Is the Brain the Key to a Better Understanding of Gender Differences in the Classroom? 

    Sex/Gender Differences in the Brain and their Relationship to BehaviorDownload Sex/Gender 



    CREATIVTY

    Neuroscience of creativity


    Additional Educational Psychology Readings

    Classroom Management Part 1:

    Classroom Management Overview



    Classroom Management Part 2:

    Classroom Management Theorists (including Bill Rogers)

    Chapter showing diagram of corrective strategies by Levin and Nolan given in lectures.

    More Recent Publications:

    Classroom management practices commonly used by secondary school teachers: results from a Queensland survey

    A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Classroom Management Strategies and Classroom Management Programs on Students’ Academic, Behavioral, Emotional, and Motivational Outcome 

    A Review into Effective Classroom Management and Strategies for Student Engagement: Teacher and Student Roles in Today芒聙聼s Classrooms
    Online Learning
    N/A
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Face to face seminars.  This is a 9 week semi-intensive course.

    All seminars are recorded and streamable/downloadable from echo 360 on MyUni.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Workload Total Hours
    2 x 2-hour lecture/seminar/workshop per week 36 hours per semester
    4 hours assigned reading and reporting per week 36 hours per semester
    5 hours personally selected reading per week 45 hours per semester
    5 hours assignment preparation per week 45 hours per semester
    Total = 162 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Lecture Topic
    1 Introduction. Brain plasticity/Behavioural psychology
    2 Memory and Learning/Cognitive psychologists
    3 Diet and exercise for brain health and learning.
    4 Brain and Language learning / Vygotsky
    5 Emotion, attention and learning / sustaining motivation in the classroom
    6 Differentiated approaches to classroom practice.
    7 Sleep and memory / Creativity
    8 Classroom managment Part I
    9 Classroom management Part II
  • Assessment

    The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Word Count
    Neuroscience: Report on a selected aspect of neuroscience in its application to education. 


    Report 40% 2,000
    Educational psychology: Report on a selected theory psychological theory in its application to education.

    Report 60% 3,000
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Use provided materials in addition to your own research.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Task 1:

    Neuroscience and education report: Write a report on a selected aspect or specified topic of neuroscience relevant to education.
    2000 Word  40% weighting

    Recommended topics:

    Brain Plasticity and Learning
    Memory and Learning
    Diet and a healthy brain
    Adolescent brain and learning
    Language learning (and or second language learning).
    Emotion, Motivation and Learning


    Assessment Task 2:

    Psychological theory report:  Write a report on a psychological theory relevant to education.
    3000 Word  60% weigthing

    Recommended Topics:

    Behavioural approaches (CA: use of praise and reward/punishment to build desired behaviours/learnings)
    Information processing (CA: memorization techniques (I have materials))
    Jean Piaget (CA: application concrete/formal operations)
    Lev Vygotsky (CA: scaffolding or ZPD (zone of proximal development))
    Motivation (CA: motivational strategies in lesson design)
    Strategies for Managing Classroom Practice Part 1 (CA: preventing and responding to low-level misbehaviour)
    Adolescent or life-long development (CA: age-specific developmental strategies)
    Csikszentmihalyi’s work on Creativity and Flow. (CA: a lesson designed to stimulate creativity).
    Strategies for Managing Classroom Practice Part 2 (CA: preventing and responding to chronic misbehaviour)
    Any other by negotiation.
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through .

  • Student Feedback

    The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

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