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