Synopses & Reviews
The first book of its kind, Essentials of Educational Psychology focuses squarely on the core concepts, principles, and underlying assumptions of the field of educational psychology–the big ideas of ed psych. Because of this focus and the book’s exceptionally direct and clear presentation, Essentials is a 10 chapter book that can truly be covered and understood in a term. It is a book that enables and empowers students to understand the value and essential importance of educational psychology to becoming a qualified and quality teacher.
What instructors and students who have used Essentials say about the text:
“I have had many students each term tell me that this is the most readable and practical textbook they have ever read. . . .[Essentials] is something that [Ormrod] wrote after considering her students’ needs! This comes out in the writing style but in a way that also maintains the rigor of the content and uses the most recent understandings in the field”
Mark J. Szymanski
Pacific University
“This text creates an integrated and engaging narrative that adeptly weaves theories and concepts of learning, motivation, and development into classroom teaching. . . .Not only is the text a pleasure to read, but it is also a pleasure to teach using this text. . . .This format is sensitive to the length of semesters, and frees instructors from rushing from one chapter to the next or covering multiple chapters in a single week. As such, instructors have greater flexibility to explore the topics with students.”
Cecil Robinson
The University of Alabama
“Other texts present information that is often bogged down with dry descriptions of research and abstract concepts. Ormrod has an outstanding ability to make content accessible to and interesting for undergraduate students. . . .Also, examples and suggestions are clearly related to chapter content and helpful for tying content to actual classroom practice. We recommend that students keep this textbook because it will be a useful reference for them when they actually begin teaching.”
Rhoda Cummings
University of Nevada, Reno
“I have found no other textbook author who prepares adolescent behavior and development, child behavior and development, or beginning educational psychology texts…as clearly as Ormrod.”
William M. Gray
University of Toledo
Review
“I was really impressed with this book. Essentials presents a welcomed alternative to currently available formats, and represents a change that will help reshape how educational psychology is taught, and more importantly perceived among teacher education candidates, from that of a disjointed set of theories to be learned for exit examinations and national certification to a coherent body of knowledge that informs teachers as they develop their teaching craft.”
— Dr. Cecil Robinson, The University of Alabama
“…I’ll admit I’m a fan of this text. Having read it from start to finish, I certainly feel comfortable with the information presented, really enjoyed the authentic documents used to illustrate or capture the “student voice,” and found the author’s view of how to teach children and adolescents consistent with my own view and the view I try to foster in my students… I found it a pleasure to read and appreciated the author’s clear writing style.”
--Ty Binfet, Ph.D., Loyola Marymount University
“This text is unique in that it provides ample coverage of educational psychology topics in nine instead of the usual 15-16 chapters. It is much more readable and makes sometimes complex material interesting. The author does not get bogged down in research as one or two other ed psych texts do... This text provides the most readable yet comprehensive content of any text I have seen so far. It is the most appropriate text for undergraduate students that I have seen. I would certainly consider adopting this text.”
–Rhoda Cummings, Ed. D., University of Nevada, Reno
“…What makes this text different is the depth in which the author explores some issues and offers very good examples and exercises to illustrate points. I found the text compelling, more compelling than most similar texts. Usually these texts leave me rather cold: inundating me with material and being very busy–i.e. tables, graphs, margin boxes, and so forth. While this text has these features, the narrative carried the day for me… I would definitely consider using this text.”
– Robert B. Faux, University of Pittsburgh
Synopsis
Breaking the Mold: A New Approach to Teaching and Writing about the Field of Educational Psychology “Essentials presents a welcomed alternative to currently available formats, and represents a change that will help reshape how educational psychology is taught and more importantly perceived among teacher education candidates, from that of a disjointed set of theories to be learned for exit examinations and national certification to a coherent body of knowledge that informs teachers as they develop their teaching craft.”
Cecil Robinson, University of Alabama
“I think the coverage is about the same, if not somewhat better, as found in other texts. But what makes this text different is the depth in which the author explores some issues and offers very good examples and exercises to illustrate points. I found the text compelling.”
Robert B. Faux, University of Pittsburgh
“This text is unique in that it provides ample coverage of educational psychology topics in ten instead of the usual fifteen to sixteen chapters…This text provides the most readable yet comprehensive content of any text I have seen so far. It is the most appropriate text for undergraduate students that I have seen.”
Rhoda Cummings, University of Nevada, Reno
Helping Teachers and Pre-Service Teachers Understand the Value and Applicability of Educational Psychology to Classroom Teaching
“The presentation is more concise because content is organized more around big ideas and principles than around elaborating theoretical positions and describing studies. For instructors who are trying to move their educational psychology courses toward greater application and appropriateness for teacher education, this will be welcome.”
Lynley H. Anderman, University of Kentucky
“Writing style is very readable and highly engaging…There is more emphasis on learning principles and recommendations for teaching strategies in this book compared to other texts…. students would find it very rich in terms of suggestions and recommendations.”
Julita G. Lambating, California State University, Sacramento
“I’ll admit I’m a fan of this text. Having read it from start to finish, I certainly feel comfortable with the information presented, really enjoyed the authentic documents used to illustrate or capture the “student voice,” and found the author’s view of how to teach children and adolescents consistent with my own view and the view I try to foster in my students.”
Dr. Ty Binfet, Loyola Marymount University
Synopsis
Breaking the Mold: A New Approach to Teaching and Writing about the Field of Educational Psychology “Essentials presents a welcomed alternative to currently available formats, and represents a change that will help reshape how educational psychology is taught and more importantly perceived among teacher education candidates, from that of a disjointed set of theories to be learned for exit examinations and national certification to a coherent body of knowledge that informs teachers as they develop their teaching craft.”
Cecil Robinson, University of Alabama
“I think the coverage is about the same, if not somewhat better, as found in other texts. But what makes this text different is the depth in which the author explores some issues and offers very good examples and exercises to illustrate points. I found the text compelling.”
Robert B. Faux, University of Pittsburgh
“This text is unique in that it provides ample coverage of educational psychology topics in ten instead of the usual fifteen to sixteen chapters…This text provides the most readable yet comprehensive content of any text I have seen so far. It is the most appropriate text for undergraduate students that I have seen.”
Rhoda Cummings, University of Nevada, Reno
Helping Teachers and Pre-Service Teachers Understand the Value and Applicability of Educational Psychology to Classroom Teaching
“The presentation is more concise because content is organized more around big ideas and principles than around elaborating theoretical positions and describing studies. For instructors who are trying to move their educational psychology courses toward greater application and appropriateness for teacher education, this will be welcome.”
Lynley H. Anderman, University of Kentucky
“Writing style is very readable and highly engaging…There is more emphasis on learning principles and recommendations for teaching strategies in this book compared to other texts…. students would find it very rich in terms of suggestions and recommendations.”
Julita G. Lambating, California State University, Sacramento
“I’ll admit I’m a fan of this text. Having read it from start to finish, I certainly feel comfortable with the information presented, really enjoyed the authentic documents usedto illustrate or capture the “student voice,” and found the author’s view of how to teach children and adolescents consistent with my own view and the view I try to foster in my students.”
Dr. Ty Binfet, Loyola Marymount University
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Educational Psychology
Case Study: Starting High School
Basic Assumptions of Educational Psychology
Strategies for Learning and Studying Effectively
2. Learning, Cognition, and Memory
Case Study: The New World
Learning as a Constructive Process
Thinking and Learning in the Brain
How Human Memory Works
Why Learners May or May Not Remember What They've Learned
Promoting Effective Cognitive Processes
3. Learning in Context
Case Study: Ben and Sylvia
The Immediate Environment as Context
Social Interaction as Context
Culture and Society as Context
How Learners Affect Their Environment
Providing Supportive Contexts for Learning
4. Higher-Level Cognitive Processes
Case Study: Taking Over
Metacognition
Self-Regulation
Transfer
Problem Solving and Creativity
Critical Thinking
Promoting Higher-Level Cognitive Processes
5. Cognitive Development
Case Study: Hidden Treasure
General Principles of Development
Developmental Processes
Trends in Cognitive Development
Intelligence
Addressing Students' Developmental Needs
6. Motivation and Affect
Case Study: Passing Algebra
Basic Human Needs
How Motivation Affects Behavior and Cognition
Cognitive Factors in Motivation
Affect and Its Effects
Promoting Motivation and Positive Affect
7. Personal and Social Development
Case Study: The School Play
Personality and Sense of Self
Peer Relationships
Social Cognition
Moral and Prosocial Development
Promoting Personal and Social Development
8. Instructional Strategies
Case Study: The Oregon Trail
Planning Instruction
Conducting Teacher-Directed Instruction
Conducting Learner-Directed Instruction
General Instructional Strategies
9. Strategies for Creating an Effective Classroom Environment
Case Study: A Contagious Situation
Creating an Environment Conducive to Learning
Expanding the Sense of Community Beyond the Classroom
Reducing Unproductive Behaviors
Addressing Aggression and Violence at School
10. Assessment Strategies
Case Study: Akeem
Using Assessment for Different Purposes
Important Qualities of Good Assessment
Conducting Informal Assessments
Designing and Giving Formal Assessments
Evaluating Students' Performance on Formal Assessments
Summarizing Students' Achievement with Grades and Portfolios
Assessing Students' Achievement with Standardized Tests
Appendix A Answers to "Practice for Your Licensure Exam Exercises"
Appendix B Interpreting Standardized Test Scores