Introduction to Educational Psychology
Introduction to Educational Psychology Exam Info
The Introduction to Educational Psychology exam covers material that is usually taught in a one-semester undergraduate course in this subject. Emphasis is placed on principles of learning and cognition, teaching methods and classroom management, child growth and development, and evaluation and assessment of learning.
50Recommended Score for Credit
3Semester Hours
Knowledge and Skills Required
Cognitive Perspective15%
- Attention and perception
- Memory
- Complex cognitive processes (e.g., problem solving, transfer, and conceptual change)
- Applications of cognitive theory
- Language
Behavioral Perspective11%
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Schedules of reinforcement
- Applications of behavioral perspectives
Development15%
- Cognitive
- Social/emotional
- Moral
- Gender identity/sex roles
- Language acquisition
Motivation10%
- Social-cognitive theories of motivation (e.g., attribution theory, expectancy-value theory, goal orientation theory, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and self-determination theory)
- Learned helplessness
- Teacher expectations/Pygmalion effect
- Anxiety/stress
- Applications of motivational theories
Individual Differences17%
- Intelligence
- Genetic and environmental influences
- Exceptionalities in learning (e.g., giftedness, learning disabilities, and behavior disorders)
- Ability grouping and tracking
Testing12%
- Classroom assessment (e.g., formative and summative evaluation, and grading procedures)
- Norm- and criterion-referenced tests
- Test reliability and validity
- Bias in testing
- High-stakes assessment/standards-based testing
- Interpretation of test results (e.g., descriptive statistics and scaled scores)
- Use and misuse of assessments
Pedagogy10%
- Planning instruction for effective learning
- Writing objectives to align instruction with standards
- Social constructivist pedagogy (e.g., scaffolding)
- Cooperative/collaborative learning
- Classroom management
- Technology in education
- Differentiated instruction
Research Design and Analysis5%
- Research design (e.g., longitudinal, experimental, case study, and quasi-experimental)
- Research methods (e.g., survey, observation, and interview)
- Interpretation of research (e.g., correlation versus causation, and descriptive statistics)
Multiculturalism5%
- Ethnic, racial, and cultural issues
- Socioeconomic status (SES)
- Bilingualism/English as a second language
- Gender differences
- Immigration/social change
- Culturally responsive teaching