Psychology’s Role in Education/Teacher Education Jane Close Conoley University of California Santa Barbara
Jan 20, 2016
Psychology’s Role in Education/Teacher
Education
Psychology’s Role in Education/Teacher
Education
Jane Close Conoley
University of California
Santa Barbara
Jane Close Conoley
University of California
Santa Barbara
The LearnersThe Learners
• Applied Psychologists• Educational
Researchers• K-12 Teachers• Educational
Leaders/principals, superintendents
• Applied Psychologists• Educational
Researchers• K-12 Teachers• Educational
Leaders/principals, superintendents
• Higher Education Leaders/community college, deans of students
• Health, kinesiology, motor behavior
• Human resource development
• Higher Education Leaders/community college, deans of students
• Health, kinesiology, motor behavior
• Human resource development
Is Psychology Required?Is Psychology Required?
• Developmental Psychology• Tests and measurements/Individual Differences• Learning• Family and Community Focus• Small group behavior/management• Diversity• Motivation
• Developmental Psychology• Tests and measurements/Individual Differences• Learning• Family and Community Focus• Small group behavior/management• Diversity• Motivation
Role/RationaleRole/Rationale• Very often pre-requisite
• Ubiquitous role, but rarely taught by psychologists
• Learning, motivation, growth/development, group differences, family/small group behavior
• Scientific method
• Very often pre-requisite
• Ubiquitous role, but rarely taught by psychologists
• Learning, motivation, growth/development, group differences, family/small group behavior
• Scientific method
Special IssuesSpecial Issues
• University silos
• Lack of rewards for involvement with teacher education
• Field based
• Little prior knowledge and brief encounters during training
• University silos
• Lack of rewards for involvement with teacher education
• Field based
• Little prior knowledge and brief encounters during training
Opportunities and BarriersOpportunities and Barriers
• Often differing methodological traditions
• Failure of psychology to translate into the classroom
• Different departments and theoretical traditions
• Laboratory for many vital areas
• Often differing methodological traditions
• Failure of psychology to translate into the classroom
• Different departments and theoretical traditions
• Laboratory for many vital areas
Implications for PsychologyImplications for Psychology
• New focus on teacher education – but on academic subjects
• Significant funding available
• Need to connect to political and regulatory realities of classroom
• Current shortages of mental health support in schools
• New focus on teacher education – but on academic subjects
• Significant funding available
• Need to connect to political and regulatory realities of classroom
• Current shortages of mental health support in schools
Preparing for the FuturePreparing for the Future
• Learning Science – in the academic areas
• Realistic brain research applications
• Diversity/cultural competence
• Professional development for teachers
• Little purposeful preparation in this area
• Learning Science – in the academic areas
• Realistic brain research applications
• Diversity/cultural competence
• Professional development for teachers
• Little purposeful preparation in this area
Role for APARole for APA
• Psychology in Education Interdivisional Coalition
• Teacher Professional Development
• Forums that link teacher educators and psychologists, e.g., activity at AERA
• Psychology in Education Interdivisional Coalition
• Teacher Professional Development
• Forums that link teacher educators and psychologists, e.g., activity at AERA