Finding the Psychology in Educational Psychology: Aligning Course Objectives With American Psychological Association Guidelines

• In Event: Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Teaching Educational Psychology

Abstract

Using a diverse sample of Educational Psychology syllabi, a document analysis was conducted to examine how educational psychology courses can not only meet professional teaching standards, but also address the learning outcomes recommended by the American Psychological Association. Findings suggest that (1) there is considerable overlap between InTASC Core Teaching Standards and APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major, and (2) instructor-generated objectives listed on syllabi tend to address many suggested learning outcomes for psychology students established by the APA. In a time when standards-based pedagogy and assessment is a focus in higher education, professors will benefit from seeing how their courses, which are interdisciplinary in nature, address learning standards set forth by both the fields of education and psychology.

Authors

• Rachel J. Eells, Concordia University - Chicago

• Allison Gelfuso Butler, Bryant University