Theoretical and methodological aspects of developmental and educational psychology; the processes and mechanisms that regulate social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic development from childhood to preadolescence. Special focus on school adjustment: factors that influence school adjustment and children’s academic outcomes; school as a system; well-being of teachers and students at school; basic knowledge about specific learning disorders.
Course Content - 2 semester - last names M-Z
Theoretical and methodological aspects of developmental and educational psychology; milestones and processes characterising social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic development from childhood to adolescence. The effect of the environment on the neurofunctional, cognitive and emotional organization. Detailed analysis of the cognitive and emotional prerequisites of learning and of school readness. Comparative studies of typical and atypical development.
Schaffer R. (2004). Psicologia dello sviluppo. Cortina Ed., Milano.
Aureli T., Bascelli E., Camodeca M., Di Sano S. (2008). Il bambino in classe. Aspetti teorici e strumenti di valutazione. Carocci editore, Roma.
Slides of the course on Moodle.
Santrock. J. W. Psicologia dello Sviluppo. Con Connect. 2017. McGraw Hill
Slides and scientific papers (in Italian or in English)
Learning Objectives - 2 semester - last names A-L
Knowledge and understanding:
The course provides basic knowledge on developmental and educational psychology. The topics are: the theoretical and methodological aspects of developmental psychology; the processes and mechanisms that regulate social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic development from childhood to preadolescence; factors that influence school adjustment and children’s academic outcomes; school as a system; well-being of teachers and students at school; basic knowledge about specific learning disorders.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
The course provides the fundamental skills to detect the main stages of psychological development across childhood and school-age. The course provides some strategies to measure class group relationships, class climate and to relate with children and adults. The course aims to support students in working in groups to plan and verify studies and educational interventions.
Making judgements:
The course will encourage a critical and involved attitude during discussions, group activities and lessons.
Communication skills:
The course provides the knowledge for using a correct vocabulary and for communicating with children and adults.
Learning skills:
The course provides skills required for ongoing learning.
Learning Objectives - 2 semester - last names M-Z
Knowledge and understanding:
The course provides basic knowledge on developmental and educational psychology. The main topics are: theoretical and methodological aspects of developmental psychology; processes and mechanisms that regulate social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic development from childhood to adolescence; protective and risk factors affecting school adjustment and child's academic outcomes; comparisons between typical and atypical development.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
The course provides the fundamental skills to detect the milestones of psychological development from childhood to school-age. The course provides some strategies to qualitatively measure the cognitive and emotional underpinning of learning and the class group relationships. The course aims to support students in working in groups to plan and verify studies and educational interventions.
Making judgments:
The course will encourage a critical and active participation to discussions, group activities and lessons.
Communication skills:
The course provides appropriate vocabulary and adeguate communication skills with children and adults.
Learning skills:
The course provides skills required for continuity in learning.
Prerequisites - 2 semester - last names A-L
none
Prerequisites - 2 semester - last names M-Z
none
Teaching Methods - 2 semester - last names A-L
Knowledge and understanding:
Lectures, seminars in collaboration with experts, small groups’ work to plan a study/research.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
Exercises and individual or small groups’ work and discussion in the class.
Making judgements:
Group discussions and presentation to class of small groups’ work.
Communication skills:
Presenting small groups’ work studies/research in an oral and written form by power point (6 hours). Use of a correct vocabulary referring to the studied topics.
Learning skills:
This competence will be promoted through group study/research activities.
Teaching Methods - 2 semester - last names M-Z
Knowledge and understanding
Lectures, webinars and on-line talks from experts, work in small groups to pan a study/research
Applying knowledge and understanding:
Exercises, individual or small groups work and discussions in the class.
Making judgments:
Group discussions and presentations to class of the group work.
Communication skills:
Presenting group work studies/research in an oral and written form by power point. Use of a correct vocabulary for the studied topics.
Learning skills:
This competence will be promoted through group study/search activities.
Further information - 2 semester - last names A-L
Couse program, the time-table of course activities, suggested readings, learning objective, teaching methods, type of assessment will be presented at the beginning of the course. All students are invited to be present at the beginning of the course, even those who cannot attend the course o can do it but only rarely.
In addition to the slide presented during classes, the time-table of course activities, also Syllabus will be put online on the e-learning site.
Further information - 2 semester - last names M-Z
Course program, the time-table of course activities, suggested readings, learning activities, teaching methods and type of assessment will be presented at the beginning of the course. All students are invited to be present at the beginning of the course, even those who cannot attend the course or that can do it rarely. Course frequency is highly suggested.
Syllabus will be online on the e-learning site.
Type of Assessment - 2 semester - last names A-L
Knowledge and understanding:
Oral exam to verify in-depth knowledge and critical skills. All students (attending and non-attending) have the opportunity to perform two formative evaluation activities, during the course, with self-evaluation and discussion about results in the class group (see calendar on moodle).
Applying knowledge and understanding:
In the oral exam, the ability to reflect on issues of the course and to apply this knowledge to the school context.
Small group homework and collectively discussion in classroom will be requested: it will be voluntary and evaluated. Students must apply within and not after the sixth lesson. The students' personal exposition will be evaluated in regard to: expository clarity, expository complexity, capacity of expressing limits and potentiality of the conducted study/research, respecting scheduled times. The positive evaluation of the group work could result in the addition of up to two points to the final exam evaluation for each student.
Making judgements:
Expressing personal point of view in oral test will be evaluated.
Communication skills:
Use of a correct and appropriate vocabulary in oral test and during presentation of the small group homework.
Learning skills:
Oral test. Study/research tasks carried-out in small groups.
Type of Assessment - 2 semester - last names M-Z
Knowledge and understanding:
Written exam (open questions) to verify in depth knowledge and critical skills. All students (attending or non attending) have the opportunity to perform two formative evaluation activities, during the course, with self-evaluation and discuss the results in the class group (see calendar on Moodle)
Apply knowledge and understanding
in the written exam, ability to reflect on issues faced during the course and to apply this knowledge to the school context.
Small group homework and collective discussions in classroom will be requested: it will be voluntary and evaluated. Students must apply within and not after the sixth lesson. The students’ personal exposition will be evaluated in regard to: expository clarity, expository complexity, capacity of expressing limits and potentiality of the chosen study/research, respecting scheduled times. The positive evaluation of the group work could result in the addition of up to two points to the final exam evaluation for each student.
Making judgements:
Accessing punctually to knowledge and expressing personal point of view in written test will be evaluated.
Communication skills:
Use of a correct and appropriate vocabulary in written test and during presentation of the small group homework.
Learning skills:
Written test. Study/research tasks carried-out in small groups.
Course program - 2 semester - last names A-L
The main themes of developmental psychology, theoretical approaches to explain human development, research methods. The development of social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic development from childhood to preadolescence. Main theories of development: Piaget, Vygotskij, Bowlby. By seminars and exercises the course will in-depth focus on: families, bullying, factors that influence school adjustment and children’s academic outcomes, school as a system, well-being of students and teachers at school, basic knowledge about specific learning disorders.
Course program - 2 semester - last names M-Z
The main themes of developmental psychology, theoretical approaches to explain human development, research methods. The development of social, emotional, cognitive and linguistic development form childhood to adolescence. Main theories of development: Piaget, Vygotskij, Bowlby, Human Information Processing; Neuro-constructivism. By seminars and exercise the course will in depth focus on: cognitive and relational factors that influence school adjustment and children’s academic outcomes; comparative investigation of typical and atypical development.
1. Psychological development: definitions and main biological and environmental processes.
2. Motor and perceptual development: theories and milestones.
3. Cognitive development: theories and milestones.
4. Language development: theories and milestones.
5. Literacy and Math acquisition: cognitive models and milestones.
6. Implicit and Controlled Cognitive processes during development.
7. Emotional and moral
development: theories and milestones
8. School as a protective factor for the psychological development.