Title: Meaning and relevance of psychology of learning.
Course: EPS 201: PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING (B) > Section: Lesson One: Meaning and relevance of psychology of learning.

Topic-level overview | Topic/week/section |
Topic name: | Meaning and relevance of psychology of learning.
Aim of the topic: | The aim of the topic is to introduce you to the nature and scope of psychology of learning
This topic covers:
1. Meaning of psychology of learning
2. The focus areas of psychology of learning
3. The relevance of Psychology of Learning to  a teacher trainee
Intended learning outcomes:
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:

1. Define Psychology of Learning.
2. Describe the focus areas of Psychology of Learning.
3. Explain the relevance of Psychology of Learning to teachers.

Meaning and relevance of psychology of learning.

Topic-level overview | Topic/week/section |
Topic name: | Meaning and relevance of psychology of learning.
Aim of the topic: | The aim of the topic is to introduce you to the nature and scope of psychology of learning
This topic covers:
1. Meaning of psychology of learning
2. The focus areas of psychology of learning
3. The relevance of Psychology of Learning to  a teacher trainee
Intended learning outcomes:
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:

1. Define Psychology of Learning.
2. Describe the focus areas of Psychology of Learning.
3. Explain the relevance of Psychology of Learning to teachers.

Overview of student activity

Overview of student activity: | You will be provided with links for a video, a slide share and an e-book to help you engage with the learning tasks in e-tivities 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, which are aimed at helping you achieve the intended learning outcomes for topic 1.

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. Define the term Psychology of Learning. | 1 | E-tivity 1.1 | Multiple choice question in the LMS
1. Describe the five focus areas of Psychology of Learning. | 1 | E-tivity 1.2 | Short answer type of question in the LMS
1. Explain the relevance of Psychology of Learning to a teacher trainee. | 1 | E-tivity 1.3 | Essay type of question in the LMS

Module-level outcomes addressed:

Module-level outcomes addressed:
Topic 1 addresses module- level learning  outcome 1
Purpose of the topic/week/section:
The purpose of this topic is to introduce you to the meaning of the term psychology of learning, the focus areas and the relevance of psychology of learning to a teacher trainee.
Over to you: (a description of the process of the section)
In this topic, we will  learn what psychology of learning is.  Thereafter, you will create your own definition of psychology of learning and summarize the focus areas  of psychology of learning by  giving the relevance of each area to you as a teacher trainee.
Pre-topic activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
1. Reflect on your past experience as a high school student and identify a teacher who inspired you due to his/her effective teaching. Write down some of the things that the teacher was doing in class, that made you to consider his/her teaching effective. Post your answer to discussion forum 1.0.
2. Go through what your colleagues have posted and compare what inspired them against what inspired you
3. Post the differences in discussion forum 1.0
Face to face time: (if applicable) | Number of hours | 2 hours
Before going online, the moderator is expected to introduce the unit by;

1. Giving an overview of psychology as a discipline
2. Discussing the relationship between other branches of psychology and psychology of learning

E-tivity 1.1

Online activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
What should students do?
E-tivity 1.1

Use the learning materials on this link and;

     Link

1. Create your own definition of the term ‘Psychology of Learning and post your answers to the discussion forum 1.1.
2. Read at least two posts from your colleagues contribution and putting netiquete into consideration, comment on their definitions with a view to enhancing them.
3. Post your comments to the discussion forum.
Where do they do it? | Discussion  forum  for e-tivity 1.1.
By when should they do it? | By the end of the 2^nd day of the week.
E-moderator/tutor role
1. Ensure that learners are focused on the content.
2. Summarizing the key points
3. Closing the discussion forum
How are the learning outcomes in this topic assessed? | Number of hours | 20 minutes
The learning outcomes will be assessed through multiple choice questions.
How does this section link to other sections of the module?
This topic lays the foundation for the next topics in the module by providing an understanding of the concepts addressed.

E-tivity 1.2

Online activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
What should students do?
E-tivity 1.2

From the slides  on educational psychology by Haziq (2017) ;

1. Summarize the  focus areas of psychology of learning
2. Post your ideas in discussion board
3. Examine your colleagues posts, comment on their work and identify new ideas that you had not considered in your own. Re-post your enhanced work to the discussion forum.
Where do they do it? | Discussion  board  for e-tivity 1.2.
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 contents of the topic.

2. Provide feedback on the learning progress

3. Summarizing the key areas and closing  the discussion forum.
How are the learning outcomes in this topic assessed? | Number of hours | 20 minutes
The learning outcomes will be assessed through essay  questions.
How does this section link to other sections of the module?
The concepts learnt in this topic will help you understand the succeeding content in this course

E-tivity 1.3

Online activity: | Number of hours | 1 hour
What should students do?
E-tivity 1.3

This link contains a book by Seifert (2009). Read Page 10-16 and;

1. Explain the relevance of Psychology of learning to the teaching- learning process and post your contribution to the discussion board provided.
2. Keping netiquette in mind, critique your colleagues work and provide feedback in the discussion forum 1.3.
Where do they do it? | Discussion  board  for e-tivity 1.3.
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. Stimulate further learning and generation of new ideas.
2. Provide feedback on the learning progress
3. Prompt the lurkers to participate in the discussion board
4. Close the discussion forum 1.3
How are the learning outcomes in this topic assessed? | Number of hours | 20 minutes
The learning outcomes will be assessed through essay  questions.
How does this section link to other sections of the module?
The concepts learnt in this topic will help you understand the succeeding content in this course

= 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-book provided on the link, video 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 forum 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
How has an inclusive approach been incorporated in this topic? | Varied activities for the learners and e-moderator prompting the lurkers.
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,  refine the level of   difficulty for the assessment items and to balance time allocation for various activities.
At which point(s) will students receive formative feedback on the work they have done in the topic? | By the end of week 1

Question 1

Which of the following best illustrates learning?

- Withdrawing your hand from a hot stove
- Avoiding a dog who is sitting on the road
- Blinking your eye when smoke is blown into it
- Wanting to eat when you are hungry

Question 2

Three of the following reflect components of learning common to both behaviourist’s and cognitive definitions of learning. Which one of the following is not common to the definition of both perspectives?

- The fact that learning involves a change
- The importance of thought processes in learning
- The relative permanence of what is learnt
- The role of experience in learning

QUESTION 3

Patrick has trouble tracing a complex shape with a pencil when he is in pre-school, but he can do it quite well by the time he is in second grade. Is this an instance of learning?

- Yes, because his behaviour has changed
- No, because the circumstances are too dissimilar
- Maybe, although the change may be due to physiological maturation rather than experience

Question 4

Describe the focus areas of Psychology of Learning

Guidance to Question 4

In this question, the learner is expected to give a brief description of the focus areas which should include:

- The learner
- The teacher,
- The subject matter
- The learning environment
- The learning process
- Assessment and evaluation.

Question 5

Explain the relevance of Psychology of Learning to teachers

Guidance to Question 5

The learners responses may vary considerably and the list may not be exhaustive. In responding to this question, the key ideas must stand out, for example, Psychology of learning helps to equip the teacher with the necessary skills needed in dealing with various classroom problems such as truancy, cheating, bullying etc.