According to studies, all students return from summer vacation with decreased academic levels of achievement. For low-income students, however, the decreas

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Due Date: Points: 100

Overview: There are many interesting topics in the field of education. For this paper, you will have the opportunity to research and discuss a topic that is of interest to you. There are ten topics provided below that cover the major topics that have been or will be discussed throughout the course. Although there are several topics included that we have not yet discussed, it is important that the topic you choose is interesting and personally relevant to you. Therefore, if you are interested in exploring an upcoming topic for your paper, you are welcome to do so.

Instructions: Select one (1) topic of interest that you would like to write about from the approved list below:

Approved Topics (Choose one):

• Topic 1 – Assessment and Standardized Testing (Chapter 13 & 14): The topics of assessment and standardized testing are heavily debated. Please discuss the history of standardized testing in the United States and how it is used in our society for educational placement and achievement. Conclude with a discussion of where you stand personally on this debate. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 2 – Technology in the Classroom (Chapter 9): Imagine you are a teacher who has just been offered a job teaching at the grade level of your choice. Describe four (4) ways that you would incorporate technology use into your classroom instruction. Give specific examples of lessons you might teach and how they would be enhanced with technology use. Discuss at least two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages of technology use in your classroom. Make sure the technology you chose is appropriate for your students’ grade level. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 3- Teaching Students with Disabilities (Chapter 12): Choose one (1) type of disability and provide a description of it. Then, discuss how you would best support a student with that disability in your classroom to maximize their success academically and socially. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 4- Developmental Theories (Chapter 3): Review the theories by Piaget, Erikson, and Vygotsky. Choose (1) one developmental model which you believe will be most useful in your

PSY260 – Educational Psychology

Course Topic Paper

PSY260–EducationalPsychology CourseTopicPaper

work as an educator. Begin your paper by providing a general overview of their developmental theory. Then, demonstrate your understanding of these concepts by applying each stage of the theory you have chosen to an individual learner of your choosing. This can be a student, a family member, or just someone that you know. Please provide basic demographic information about the learner in your discussion. Be sure to use real-life examples to illustrate your understanding and application of the theory to the learner. Note: If you choose Erikson’s theory, it is only necessary to discuss and apply examples to the first five stages of his theory. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 5- Low Socioeconomic Status and Student Achievement (Chapter 4): What can be done to make lower-income home environments more educationally stimulating for young children? What kinds of parent training might be effective? What kinds of early intervention programs might be effective? Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 6- Social Learning Theory (Chapter 5): In Bandura’s classic experiment (1965), a group of young children was exposed to a film of adults who punched, kicked, and yelled at an inflated “Bodo” doll. Later, in playing with the doll, these children displayed twice as many aggressive responses as did children who had not seen the aggressive behavior. What does Bandura’s work suggest about the effects of violence in television shows and movies on children? What principles of social learning theory support your view? Conclude your paper with a discussion of ways in which understanding social learning theory can inform intentional teaching. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 7- Memory Strategies (Chapter 6): There are several memory strategies to learn information effectively and efficiently. For this paper discuss, at least three (3) of these strategies and provide examples of how each might be utilized in a classroom setting. Be sure to support your assertions with a minimum of three (3) scholarly sources that provide evidence for the effectiveness of the strategies that you discuss.

• Topic 8- Summer Learning Loss (Chapter 9): According to studies, all students return from summer vacation with decreased academic levels of achievement. For low-income students, however, the decrease is greater than that for middle-class children. What conditions may contribute to this difference? Discuss at least two (2) possible ways that the “summer loss gap” can be bridged for low-income students. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 9- Learned Helplessness (Chapter 10): Assume that the students in your class have adopted the behavior pattern of learned helplessness to avoid failure. First, discuss the concept of learned helplessness and contributing factors that create this state of demotivation. Then, design a three-point program that you, as the teacher, would implement to change that pattern of behavior and motivate your students to learn. Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

• Topic 10- Inclusion (Chapter 12): There are different ways in which inclusion may be addressed within the classroom setting. Please discuss inclusive education in more detail. Also, address the following questions within your paper: What are some similarities and

differences between mainstreaming and mixed-ability grouping? What are the student benefits of mainstreaming mildly disabled and gifted students t? To the teacher? To the social climate of the school? Please support your work with a minimum of three (3) relevant scholarly sources.

Requirements:

• The body of your paper must consist of at least five (5) full pages with additional title and reference pages, double-spaced with one-inch margins.

• Use at least three (3) scholarly sources in your work and include all reference citations in correct APA formatting. You may use your textbook as one scholarly reference. Your paper must be formatted according to APA guidelines.

• Use complete sentences and appropriate grammar and spelling.

Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.

Evaluation Rubric for Course Topic Paper Assignment

CRITERIA Deficient Development

Needed Satisfactory Proficient

Topic and Questions Addressed

0-23 points 24-31 points 32-35 points 36-40 points

Topic is minimally or not addressed. Opinions are offered, but arguments lack important information from scholarly sources. No specific details are provided, or a few specific details are provided, but they lack relevance.

Topic is somewhat addressed. Arguments are partially supported by information from scholarly sources and only contain a few specific and relevant details.

Topic is fairly well addressed. Arguments could be further elaborated with scholarly sources and relevant specific details.

Topic is thoroughly addressed. Arguments are well elaborated and fully supported by scholarly sources and relevant specific examples.

Structure and Flow 0-11 points 12-15 points 16-17 points 18-20 points

Flow is poor. Paragraphing is inappropriate. Transitions are minimal or absent. Significant redundancy is evident.

Flow is adequate. Paragraphs may be too long or too short. Transitions are minimal, and redundancy is evident.

Flow is good. Paragraphing is mostly appropriate. Transitions are present, and redundancies are minimal.

Flow is excellent. Paragraphing is clear, and transitions are smooth and consistent. Inappropriate redundancies are absent.

CRITERIA Deficient Development

Needed Satisfactory Proficient

Length Requirements

0-5 points 6-7 points 8 points 9-10 points

Body of paper is less than four pages in length. Margin and line spacing requirements may not be followed.

Body of paper is four to five pages in length, but margin and line spacing requirements are not followed.

Body of paper is four pages in length, with one-inch margins, and line spacing is double-spaced.

Body of paper is at least five full pages in length, with one- inch margins, and line spacing is double-spaced.

Resources 0-5 points 6-7 points 8 points 9-10 points

Required amount of resources was not used, or none of the resources were from appropriate sources.

Required amount of resources was used, but two were not from an appropriate source.

Required amount of resources was used, but one was not from an appropriate source.

At least three scholarly resources were used from appropriate sources.

APA Citations 0-5 points 6-7 points 8 points 9-10 points

APA citations are not included or have significant errors.

APA citations are included but contain numerous errors.

APA citations are included, with minor errors.

APA citations are included and are correct.

Clear and Professional Writing and Format

0-5 points 6-7 points 8 points 9-10 points

Significant errors impede professional presentation.

Numerous errors somewhat interfere with professional presentation.

Few errors that do not impede professional presentation.

Writing and format are clear, professional, and error-free.