Psychological Foundations

of Education
 Psychology provides a basis for the teaching and
learning processs.
1. Behaviorist Psychology
connectionism - Edward Thorndike (which influenced
Tyler and Taba, the well known curricularists)
classical Conditioning - Ivan Pavlov
operant Conditioning - B.F Skinner
Psychological Foundations of Education
modeling and observation theory - (Albert Bandura)
hierarchical Learning - Robert Gagne 1987
Learning outcomes:
1) intellectual skills or “knowing how” to categorize
and use symbols, forming concepts and problem solving.
2) information or “knowing what” knowledge about
facts, dates and names
3) cognitive strategies or learning skills
4) motor skills
5) attitudes, feelings and emotions learned through
experiences
 Psychological Foundations of Education
To the behaviorists, learning should be
organized in order that students can
experience success in the process of
mastering the subject matter. The method is
introduced in a step by step manner with
proper sequencing of task which is viewed
by other educational psychologist as
simplistic and mechanical.
 Psychological Foundations of Education
2. Cognitive Psychology
cognitive development stages - Jean Piaget
social constructivism - Lev Vgotsky
multiple intelligences - Howard Gardner
learning styles - Felder and Silverman
emotional intelligences - Daniel Goleman
 To the cognitive theories; learning:
 constitutes a logical method for organizing and
interpreting learning.
 it is rooted in the tradition of subject matter and is
similar to the cognitive development theory.
 Psychological Foundations of Education
 Teachers problem and thinking skills in teaching and
learning.
• reflective thinking
• creative thinking
• intuitive thinking
• discovery learning and etc.
3. Humanistic Psychology
 Humanist psychologists are connected with how
learners can develop their human potetial. Traditional
psychologists do not recognize humanistic psychology
as a school of psychology.
Psychological Foundations of Education
 observers view humanistic psychology as the
third force learning theory after behavism and
cognitive development.
(Gestalt theory) learning can be explained in terms
of the wholeness of the problem and where the
environment is changing and the learner is
continuously reorganizing his or her perceptions.
Abrabam Maslow's theory of human needs for self-
actualizing persons
Carl Roger's non-directive lives
 Psychological Foundations of Education
 Among the humanistic psychologist, curriculum is
concerned with the process not the products; personal
needs not subject matter; psychological meaning and
evironmental situations.
• psychology has a great influence in the curriculum.
Learners are not machines and the mind is not a
computer. Humans are biological foundations will help
curriculum makers in nurturing a more advanced,
more comprehensive and complete human learning.
Social Foundations of
Education
Schools exist within the social context. In considering
the social foundations of curriculum, we must recognize
that schools are the only of the many institutions that
educate society. The home, the family, community
likewise educate the people in the society. But schools
are formal institutions that address more complex and
interrelated societies and the world.