BSc Educational Psychology / Course details

Year of entry: 2023

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Course unit details:
The Brain goes to school

Course unit fact file
Unit code	EDUC13031
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 1
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	School of Environment, Education and Development
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

The unit begins with the fundamentals of basic neurology (e.g. cells, neurotransmitters) and an introduction into experience and learning. It then moves to examining how brain structures and specialisation are currently understood and applied to learning.

There will be consideration of: Attention; Perception; Learning; Memory; Language

Each area will be considered from a neurobiological perspective and then applied to learners in classrooms. The unit finishes with an overview, which is then used to inform the assessment.

Aims

To provide coverage of the BPS qualifying syllabus core area of biological Psychology

Show how an understanding of neuropsychology helps to explain learning in the classroom.

Learning outcomes

Category of outcome	Students should/will (please delete as appropriate) be able to:
Knowledge and understanding	Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key issues and concepts in developmental neuropsychology (e.g. neural plasticity, double dissociations). Critically analyse and evaluate relevant literature in the areas of psychobiology and developmental neuropsychology. Examine, interpret and apply topics in developmental neuropsychology to educational settings and contexts. Explain, in neuropsychological terms, aspects of perception, attention, learning and memory, and their significance in developmental and educational contexts.
Intellectual skills	Discuss and debate chosen topics in neuropsychology and critically evaluate their strengths and limitations of their underpinning research. Apply and critically evaluate neuropsychological theory in relation to education
Practical skills	Design and carry out workshop exercises to explore aspects memory and relate this to school based learning.
Transferable skills and personal qualities	Take charge of their own learning and undertake self-directed study to produce a credit-bearing assignment (see below) Written communication Oral communication (contributing to discussion and debate) Working with others (group work) IT skills (word processing, accessing electronic databases and library facilities, managing references)

Teaching and learning methods

Content sessions and virtual lectures (e.g. including discussion and debate, experiential learning, and other approaches to learning and teaching)

Workshop activities to explore aspects memory relevant to school-based learning

Assessment methods

Assessment task	Length	How and when feedback is provided	Weighting within unit
Students are to produce a ‘users guide’ showing how one element of neuropsychology (chosen in consultation with a tutor) is applied to learning in the classroom.	2,500	Written feedback (utilising Turn-it-in), within University guidelines.	100%

Students are also required to complete an online ‘mid term quiz’, as indicated on Blackboard. This assessment covers a breadth of knowledge from across the unit.

This assessment is open book may be completed at any time, and multiple re-sits are allowed. However, a pass mark of at least 80% is required in order to be able to submit your credit-bearing assignment.

Feedback methods

Written feedback (utilising Turn-it-in), within University guidelines.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	30
Practical classes & workshops	40

Independent study hours
Independent study	130

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Garry Squires	Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Activity	Hours allocated
Staff/student contact	10* interactive lectures@ 3 hours
Workshop activities (NeuroLab)	40
Private study, readng and assignment preparation	130
Total hours	200

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