Semester 1

The module aim

This module aims at equipping students with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them, as prospective teachers, to understand the behaviour of learners and the school environment in which teaching and learning take place. Therefore, this module will tackle various concepts of psychology such as meaning and nature of psychology, major perspectives, branches and research methods of psychology, biological bases of behaviour, intelligence, sensation and perception, memory and forgetting, emotion, motivation, personality and psychological disorders.

Module Learning Objectives:

1. Explain key psychological concepts, theories, and branches to demonstrate a foundational understanding of how psychology studies human behavior and mental processes.
2. Describe the biological and cognitive bases of behavior by explaining how the nervous system, sensation, perception, memory, intelligence, motivation, and emotion influence human functioning.

3. Analyze psychological phenomena by applying major theories and approaches to real-life and educational contexts.
4. Interpret major psychological disorders and personality theories to develop the ability to classify and explain variations in human behavior.

5. Demonstrate curiosity, empathy, and ethical awareness in studying and applying psychological knowledge to promote personal growth and respect for individual differences.

Module Outline:

Unit 1: Introduction to the concept of psychology & educational psychology

Unit 2: Historical Development of Psychology

Unit 3: Some branches of psychology

Unit 4: Biological basis of behavior

Unit 5: Sensation and perception

Unit 6: Intelligence

Unit 7: Memory and forgetting

Unit 8: Motivation and emotion

Unit 9: Self-concept and Self-Regulation

Unit 10: Personality

Unit 11: Psychological disorders

Unit 12: Behaviorism

Unit 13: Cognitive theory

Unit 14: Constructivism theory

Unit 15. Socio-constructivism

Unit 16. Social learning theory

Unit 17: Social practices approach to adult learning

Model of Delivery:

·       Blended mode of delivery including

o   Face to face sessions

o   Online sessions

Teaching Team:

Philosophical Foundations of Education cours is combined with Sociological Foundations of Education.

Students are challenged to reflect upon the meaning and implication of Philosophy and Education in our society, the branches of philosophy (Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic...Philosophy of Education). 

They are also introduced to some historical views in philosophy and philosophy education  such as idealism, empiricism, realism, pragmatism, existentialism, phenomenology, perenialism, essentialism, reconstructionism, progressivism...

The first aim is to equip  students with a critical mind by allowing them to discuss and assess the relevance of these topics in particular situations. The second aim is to bring this critical reflection into matters of education and social interactions. Here students are asked to write short essays about these issues.

They are encouraged to find out the underlying significance of philosophy in Education and sociology, in their everydayness and future career or dreams...