Psychology Atlas

How The Mind Works
Branches of Psychology

Educational Psychology

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Educational psychology is the branch of psychology that studies human learning processes from cognitive and behavioral perspectives, examining individual differences in intelligence, cognitive development, motivation and self-concept in order to understand and improve teaching and learning in classrooms and other settings.

Facts
Disputed
Key Debate
Whether rewards and praise in the classroom undermine students' intrinsic motivation to learn, as proponents of self-determination theory argue, or whether structured rewards tied to a rising performance standard can enhance motivation instead. 1
Self-determination theorists hold that extrinsic rewards crowd out intrinsic motivation, while other research finds rewards tied to a gradually rising performance standard can increase it instead; the two positions are not reconciled.
Central Question
How do people learn, and how can teaching, curricula and educational settings be designed to support that learning most effectively? 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Includes

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Educational Psychology
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Quote, Lead section
The study of learning processes from both cognitive and behavioral perspectives allows researchers to understand individual differences in intelligence and cognitive development.
1. Wikipedia: Educational Psychology
Wikimedia FoundationBehavioral Perspectives section
Quote, Behavioral Perspectives section
Despite the demonstrated efficacy of awards in changing behavior, their use in education has been criticized by proponents of self-determination theory, who claim that praise and other rewards undermine intrinsic motivation.
Wikipedia: Constructivism (learning theory)
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Constructivism, Overview section, mechanisms of learning
Quote, Includes: Constructivism, Overview section, mechanisms of learning
Piaget described the mechanisms by which information from the environment and ideas from the individual interact to form internalized structures developed by learners.
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Wikipedia: Jerome Bruner
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Jerome Bruner, Opening paragraph (cognitive and educational psychology)
Quote, Includes: Jerome Bruner, Opening paragraph (cognitive and educational psychology)
made significant contributions to human cognitive psychology and cognitive learning theory in educational psychology
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Wikipedia: Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Howard Gardner, Overview section, what the theory proposes
Quote, Includes: Howard Gardner, Overview section, what the theory proposes
human intelligence is not a single general ability but comprises various distinct modalities, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, and spatial intelligences.
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Wikipedia: Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Overview section, what the theory proposes
Quote, Includes: Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Overview section, what the theory proposes
human intelligence is not a single general ability but comprises various distinct modalities, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, and spatial intelligences.
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Wikipedia: Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Robert Sternberg, Three components section
Quote, Includes: Robert Sternberg, Three components section
Sternberg's theory comprises three parts: componential, experiential and practical.
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Wikipedia: Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, Three components section
Quote, Includes: Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, Three components section
Sternberg's theory comprises three parts: componential, experiential and practical.
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Wikipedia: John Sweller
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: John Sweller, Lead section
Quote, Includes: John Sweller, Lead section
best known for formulating an influential theory of cognitive load
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Wikipedia: Cognitive Load
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Cognitive Load Theory, Types of cognitive load section, germane load
Quote, Includes: Cognitive Load Theory, Types of cognitive load section, germane load
Germane load refers to the working memory resources that the learner dedicates to managing the intrinsic cognitive load associated with the essential information for learning.
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