Course Title
PSY 681: COGNITION AND INSTRUCTION I

Course Overview
This course is an overview of various theoretical and applied perspectives on cognition and instruction. It focuses on the integration of theory with authentic practice through readings and reflections on observations and experiences in learning settings.

Course Goal and Objectives
The goal of this course is to provide graduate students with a comprehensive understanding of various perspectives on cognition and instruction and the integration of these perspectives with practice. The course is one of a sequence of two courses designed to provide a solid foundation for advanced seminars focused on specific topics, graduate level research, and dissertations.

Students in this course will meet the following objectives:

• To understand the historical context of research on cognition and instruction.
• To understand the perspectives and basic tenets of the major learning and cognitive theorists.
• To understand observational and interview experiences in authentic teaching and learning environments, particularly with respect to subject matter areas.
• To understand current research and cognitive perspectives, including misconceptions research, conceptual change theory, and constructivism.
• To understand and appreciate the concept and perspective of Learner-Centered education and the APA Learner-Centered Principles.
• To begin to understand the processes of formulating research questions, data collection, and data analysis.

Course Content
The following topics will be addressed:
• Behaviorism
• Cognitive Information Processing
• Meaningful Learning and Schema Theory
• Situated Cognition
• Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development
• Biological Basis of Learning and Memory
• Constructivist perspectives on teaching and learning
• APA Learner –Centered Principles
• The Culture of Education

Expectations for Students
Students will complete the course weekly readings, actively participate in on-line class discussion, produce substantive written reflections of course topics and/or conduct and reflect on interviews of learners and teachers, and write a paper reviewing the research literature in a specific area of learning or teaching.

Connections to CLTW Core Values
Diversity and equity issues are inherent in the nature of learning and teaching, particularly since this course emphasizes a learner-centered perspective. Since the course topics are discussed in the context of the students’ experiences in authentic learning settings, each student’s individual pedagogical and content knowledge is enhanced. Students read reviews, summaries, and original research in learning and cognition and share their work with each other to enhance community building and foster leadership.