Teaching code

4S006129

Teacher

Elena Florit

Coordinator

Elena Florit

Credits

8

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-PSI/04 - DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Period

Sem. 1A, Sem. 1B

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

PRE-SCHOOL
1. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- identify and explain developmental and learning process in different psychological domains (perceptive and sensory-motor, cognitive, linguistic and communicative, emotional, socio-relational) from the first infancy to preschool, with focus on 3-6 years of age, and in reference to the main theoretical models in developmental psychology;
- identity the basic abilities and the prerequisites of acquisition and development of the skills in the different domains, specifically linguistic and communicative, and socio-relational from 3 to 6 years of age;
- know and understand the role that cognitive competences, but also emotional, motivational and social have in the learning processes and for promoting well-being at school, from 3 to 6 years of age;
- know the main methods and instruments for observe and assess in developmental and educational psychology approaches, in reference to preschool.
2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- consider critically the relationships between the individual and the contextual factors that influence the development of learning and language in typical and atypical populations, in order to understand individual differences in development and learning and to identify the factors that promote development and learning in preschool children;
- analyse and choose the best instruments for the observation and assessment of preschool children’s development and learning;
- apply the knowledge gained through observation to the design and implementation of learning and teaching activities, particularly with regard to the promotion of well-being and inclusion in risk situations in preschool;
- promote the preschool children’s affective, cognitive and socio-relational independence;
- identify the different learning styles of girls and boys, evaluating the individual differences, with a view to the promotion of well-being and inclusion in preschool.
3. Making Judgements
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- reflect critically and independently on the processes involved in, and the factors that promote, the development of the preschool child’s learning and relational wellbeing;
- evaluate his/her own levels of psycho-educational and relational competence when designing projects, identifying areas of weakness and improvement strategies in preschool.
4. Communication Skills
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- use language clearly, including technical terms where appropriate, in discussing typical and atypical behaviour and levels of ability in the various developmental domains in preschool children;
- communicate with the preschool children in ways that promote knowledge and skills – cognitive, linguistic, relational – at different levels;
- communicate and conduct fruitful discussions with colleagues in infant school;
- communicate clearly and effectively with parents in dialogues on the educational choices open to them in infant school.
5. Learning Skills
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- learn from observing and listening to preschool children;
- find and use, in an effective and relevant manner, the sources necessary for developing appropriate learning and teaching strategies in infant school.

PRIMARY SCHOOL
1. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- identify and explain developmental and learning process in different psychological domains (perceptive and sensory-motor, cognitive, linguistic and communicative, emotional, socio-relational) from the first infancy to preschool, with focus on 6-11 years of age, and in reference to the main theoretical models in developmental psychology;
- identity the basic abilities and the prerequisites of acquisition and development of the skills in the different domains, specifically scholastic learning and relational competence, from 6 to 11 years of age;
- know and understand the role of “transversal” skills (attention and memory) for learning development;
- know and understand the role that cognitive competences, but also emotional, motivational and social have in the learning processes and for promoting well-being at school, from 6 to 11 years of age.
2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- consider critically the relationships between the individual and the contextual factors that influence the development of learning and language in typical and atypical populations, in order to understand individual differences in development and learning and to identify the factors that promote development and learning in primary school;
- analyse and choose the best instruments for the observation and assessment of children’s development and learning in primary school;
- apply the knowledge gained through observation to the design and implementation of learning and teaching activities, particularly with regard to the promotion of well-being and inclusion in risk situations in primary school;
- promote the children’s affective, cognitive and socio-relational independence in primary school;
- identify the different learning styles of girls and boys, evaluating the individual differences, with a view to the promotion of well-being and inclusion in primary school.
3. Making Judgements
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- reflect critically and independently on the processes involved in, and the factors that promote, the development of the child’s learning and relational wellbeing in primary school;
- evaluate his/her own levels of psycho-educational and relational competence when designing projects, identifying areas of weakness and improvement strategies in primary school.
4. Communication Skills
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- use language clearly, including technical terms where appropriate, in discussing typical and atypical behaviour and levels of ability in the various developmental domains in primary school;
- communicate with the children in primary school in ways that promote knowledge and skills – cognitive, linguistic, relational – at different levels;
- communicate and conduct fruitful discussions with colleagues in primary school;
- communicate clearly and effectively with parents in dialogues on the educational choices open to them in primary school.
5. Learning Skills
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
- learn from observing and listening to children in primary school;
- find and use, in an effective and relevant manner, the sources necessary for developing appropriate learning and teaching strategies in primary school.

Prerequisites and basic notions

The ability to understand and learn from texts is a prerequisite.

Program

The topics covered by the course will include:
- main theoretical models of development and learning in preschool and primary school;
- main processes (e.g., cognitive, metacognitive, motivational and socio-emotional processes) accounting for development and learning in preschool and primary school;
- main theories accounting for the acquisition of precursors of learning abilities in preschool and learning abilities in primary school (e.g., reading, text comprehension, writing, socio-emotional competence etc.).
- main tools for the assessment of precursors of learning abilities in preschool and learning abilities in primary school (e.g., reading ability, text comprehension, writing, socio-emotional competence etc.);
- trainings and interventions for supporting acquisition of precursors of learning abilities in preschool and learning abilities in school(e.g., reading ability, text comprehension, writing, socio-emotional competence etc.).
Exam texts and materials
- Mason, L. (2019). Psicologia dell’apprendimento e dell’istruzione. Terza edizione. Il Mulino (CAPITOLI 1,2,3,4,6,7,8)
- Santrock., J. W. (2021). Psicologia dell’educazione. McGraw-Hill (CAPITOLI 2,3,13)
- Bonifacci, P., & Tobia, V. (2022, IV ristampa). Apprendere nella scuola dell’infanzia. Lo sviluppo dei prerequisiti. Carocci
- Grazzani Gavazzi, I., Ornaghi, V., & Antoniotti, C. (2011). La competenza emotiva dei bambini. Proposte psicoeducative per le scuole dell’infanzia e primaria. Erickson.
- Materiale messo a disposizione dalla docente sul sito del corso e fruibile anche dagli studenti non frequentanti

Bibliography

Didactic methods

During lessons, explanations supported by visual devices will be alternated with moments in which students will be actively engaged in discussions and guided exercises illustrative of concepts and issues addressed by the course.
Course attendance is recommended. Lessons will be recorded and they will be made available to the students.

Learning assessment procedures

Written exam: the student will have one hour and thirty minutes to answer four open questions on the topics and materials (texts and slides) of the course.
The same examination methods will be applied to those students who attend and those who do not attend the lessons.

Evaluation criteria

The students will have to demonstrate that they:
- have a basic knowledge and understanding of main theories describing developmental and learning processes, precursors of learning abilities in preschool and learning abilities in primary school;
- are able to relate and elaborate on the acquired knowledge;
- are able to apply the acquired knowledge to identify educational activities and strategies that teachers can apply to support children’s learning abilities (and their precursors);
- ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, by identifying and using relevant theoretical and methodological knowledge and using adequate terminology and correct syntax.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Each question of the written examination will be given a rating score out of 30.
The final score will be a rating score out of 30, resulting from the average of the four partial scores.

Exam language

Italiano