Title: Attitude
Course: EPS 201: PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING (B) > Section: Lesson Seven: Attitude

Attitude

Topic-level overview | Topic/week/section | 7.
Topic name: | Attitude
Aim of the topic: | The aim of this topic is to introduce you to the components of attitudes, functions of attitudes and development of attitudes. This is meant to  equip you  with knowledge on how to influence attitude change among your learners.
This topic covers:
1. Components of attitudes
2. Development of attitudes
3. Functions of attitudes
4. Attitude change
Intended learning outcomes:
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:

1. Explain the three components of attitudes
2. Describe how attitudes develop
3. Explain the functions of attitude in learning

Overview of student activity

Overview of student activity: | The learners to do e-tivities 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 You will be provided with links for a video, a slide share and an e-book chapter to captivate you to attend to the learning tasks 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 which are aimed at helping you achieve the intended learning outcomes for topic 7.

Constructive alignment of topic level outcomes with module level outcomes, learning activities and assessment

Constructive alignment of topic level outcomes with module level outcomes, learning activities and assessment
Intended topic learning outcomes: | No of module-level outcome | Activity where students engage with this outcome | Where and how is this outcome assessed?
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
1. Explain three components of attitudes | 1, 2 & 3 | E-tivity 7.1 | Essay questions in the LMS
1. Describe  how attitudes develop | 1, 2 & 3 | E-tivity 7.2 | Short answer questions in the LMS
1. Explain the functions of attitudes | 1, 2 & 3 | E-tivity 7.3 | Essay questions in the LMS

Module-level outcomes addressed:

Module-level outcomes addressed:
Topic 7 addresses module-level  learning outcomes 1, 2  and 3
Purpose of the topic/week/section:
The purpose of this topic is to equip you with knowledge necessary for applying various  strategies in changing learners’ negative attitudes towards school.
Over to you:
Attitudes can be defined as favorable or unfavorable evaluative reactions towards things in one’s environment. Attitudes are exhibited through ones beliefs, feelings or intended behaviour. Learning in the school and even learners academic adjustment is largely determined by the attitudes they hold. Learners interaction with the school and with peers is associated with the development of various attitudes. It is imperative that you understand how attitudes develop, and be equipped with knowledge on how to influence positive attitude development among learners.  This topic therefore focuses on functions of attitudes, their formation and attitude change.
Pre-topic activity: | Number of hours | 30 minutes
1. Think of a school subject that you did not perform well at the beginning of your high school years but later on improved towards the end of your high school. Assuming that the change in performance was attributed to your positive attitude towards the subject, reflect on the above quote and give the possible effects of positive attitudes on learning. Share your ideas on the discussion forum 7.0.
2. Read the posts from your colleagues and pick new ideas that may enhance your understanding on the effects of positive attitudes, add these ideas into your work and repost your enhanced work to discussion forum 7.0

E-tivity 7.1

Online activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
What should students do?
E-tivity 7.1

Watch this video from Khan Academy on components of attitudes.

With the information from the video;

1. Use relevant classroom examples to explain three components of attitudes and share your contribution to group discussion forum 7.1.
2. Have a look at what your colleagues have posted and write down the ideas that you might include in your work and also think of ideas that might improve others work.
3. Post your ideas together with your enhanced work in discussion forum 7.1.
Where do they do it? | Discussion forum 7.1.
By when should they do it? | By the end of the end of the 2^nd day of the week.
E-moderator/tutor role
1. Ensure that learners are focused on the context of discussion.
2. Summarize the threads
3. Provide feedback on the learning progress
4. Close the discussion forum
How is the learning outcome in this sub-topic assessed? | Number of hours | 30 minutes
The learning outcomes will be assessed through essay  questions.
How does this section link to other sections of the module?
The knowledge of the components of attitudes  links to e-tivity 7.2 and 7.3 by providing a sound background on attitude formation and change.

E-tivity 7.2

Online activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
What should students do?
E-tivity 7.2

Read the slides by Amin (2017) and;

1. Describe how attitudes develop and post your ideas to discussion forum 7.2.
2. Read any two items that your colleagues have posted and critically appraise two factors that you had not considered in your work and engage your colleagues who had posted them in giving reasons why these factors are important.
Where do they do it? | Discussion forum 7.2.
By when should they do it? | By the end of the end of the 4^th day of the week.
E-moderator/tutor role
1. Ensure that learners are focused on the context of discussion.
2. Summarize the threads.
3. Provide feedback on the learning progress.
4. Close the discussion forum
How is the learning outcome in this sub-topic assessed? | Number of hours | 30 minutes
The learning outcome will be assessed through short answer questions.
How does this section link to other sections of the module?
The success of attitude change depends on the understanding of the factors that contributed to its formation.

Discussion forum 7.3.

Online activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
Where do they do it? | Discussion forum 7.3.
By when should they do it? | By the end of the end of the 6^th day of the week.
E-moderator/tutor role
1. Summarize the threads
2. Provide feedback on the learning progress
3. Close the discussion forum
How is the learning outcome in this sub-topic assessed? | Number of hours | 30 Minutes
The learning outcome will be assessed through an essay  question.
Face to face time: | Number of hours | 2 hours
After learners have engaged with the online activities, the moderator is expected to;

1. Give a summary of topic 7
2. Discuss with the learners the various strategies that can be used to change a student’s negative attitude towards school/ a given subject/ a friend
How does this section link to other sections of the module?
Knowledge on functions of attitude  forms the basis for better understanding of  factors influencing learning.

= Total number of hours | 7 hours

Some important questions

Some important questions
Which learning resources/ references will scaffold the students’ learning? | The module, the e-books provided on the link,  and slide share.
How are students enabled to access the resources? | Through the institutional LMS and OER Africa website.
Where in this topic are students expected to work collaboratively? | In the discussion board 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3
How has an inclusive approach been incorporated in this topic? | Varied activities for the learners.
How will feedback on topic be obtained from students? | Online posts in discussion board.
How will student feedback be used to improve topic? | The e-moderator will consider the feedback from students to ascertain whether they have mastered the content for appropriate interventions where necessary.
At which point(s) will students receive formative feedback on the work they have done in the topic? | By the end of the 7^th week.

Question 1

Explain three components of attitudes

Guidance to question 1

The students are expected to respond by explaining explicitly the three components of attitudes which include:

- Affective
- Cognitive
- Behavioural.

For example the affective domain consists of the kinds of feeling that an attitude object (person, activity, physical object) arouses. The feelings can be positive e.g. liking, loving or negative e.g. feelings of hate or dislike.

Question 2

Describe how attitudes develop

Guidance to Question 2

Attitudes develop in various ways and students answers may vary considerably. The response should clearly describe each of the answers given. The learner may give five ways through which attitudes develop. Some of the key points expected in the learners’ responses may include:

- Observational learning
- Conditioning
- Direct experience
- Cognitive development
- Interaction with peers
- Mass media.

Question 3

Explain the functions of attitudes

Guidance to question 3

In this question, the learners are expected to give a detailed explanation of the role of attitudes in an individual’s life. At least three functions may be identified and must be well explained to bring out how they affect an individual’s life. The following functions may be considered: cognitive function

- Social adjustment function
- Ego-defensive function
- Self-esteem
- Self-expression.

By way of example: the cognitive function- attitude assists an individual to quickly understand the social world by giving a frame of reference. Thus attitudes enable us to appraise people, objects, and situations and provide structure and consistency in the social world.