SPPP1012

Department of Education Foundation and Social Sciences

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Educational Psychology SPPP 1012

Semester II Session 2017/2018
(February - June 2018)

Instructor: Dr Hadijah Jaffri

Assessment [100%]: Course work [60%] and Final examination [40%]

Assessment based on Coursework (60%)

Assessment on coursework constitutes 60%. There are four (4) tasks to be completed by every
student in coursework assessment as follows:

1. Quizzes (10%): It can be in paper-and-pencil or online format

There are 2 quizzes comprised of objective questions to be carried out at week 5 and week
9. Each quiz is allocated 20 minutes. Questions are based on the textbook. Topics covered
are (according to the weekly schedule in the lesson plan):
Quiz 1 (week 5) - Topics 1, 2 and 3
Quiz 2 (week 9) - Topics 3, 4 and 5

Feedback will be given immediately after the quiz. You are expected to discuss with your
lecturer to clear any ambiguities.

However, there will be additional online homework or in-class tests which are ungraded
and will be conducted during or after class when needed. IF the students would wish to
convert these ungraded activities into graded assessment, it can be done through negotiation
with the instructor upon request.

2. Concept map weekly notes (10%)

Submission date for weekly topic: a week after the discussion of a topic (Optional for
feedback)
Submission date for compiled version [COMPULSORY]: Week 15 (last day of class)

This is an individual assignment (Please refer to the given rubric as a guideline). You might
discuss with others to prepare your notes. BUT, the notes should have YOUR identity
(DON’T SIMPLY COPY-PASTE other’s work).

You CAN submit the note on weekly basis. For example, if we discuss Topic A on week 1,
you can submit your note on Week 2 – the following week.

If you have anything that you find as difficult to understand or need further clarification (but
you do not want to ask in class), please write it in the same piece of paper where you
illustrate your weekly note. I will leave a written feedback for your eyes ONLY if you wish
it that way or I can clarify it during the next class with anonymity (your classmates might
benefit from the things you might ask).

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ONLY the compiled version will be evaluated and graded (date of submission: last day of
class on Week 15). So please take note of the comments and feedbacks that I write on each
weekly concept map note to improve your compiled version of the notes.

Please just staple your concept map notes without fancy binding. I will NOT return the
compiled version for auditing purposes, so make sure you have a copy of your own for final
examination revision. You can handwrite your concept map notes.

3. Academic Report based on Project (20%)

Date: Week 13
This is a group assignment. You have two options to do your project:
(1) classroom observation, or
(2) observation of behavior based on real life cases in school setting or tuition centre. Focus
on one or more behaviors and explain its occurrences, consequences, etc. through
educational psychology perspectives. [Note: Option 2 is for a case in which you cannot get
accessed to a classroom to do observation etc.]

The report would be based on a pseudo collaborative problem-based research that you
conduct as a group work. In this particular assignment, you have to observe certain behavior
(for examples – learning behavior, memorizing, motivation, etc.) from real life cases in a
classroom setting (or within school or tuition centre), follow by analyzing and explaining
the behavior through educational psychology perspectives.

NOTE: There are some of the possible topics that you can choose as your assignment.
*If you want to choose any of the given topics, please choose ONLY one of the topics for
your assignment.
• E.G. TOPIC 1: The application of reward and punishment as a means to enhance
students’ participation on a particular activity based on operant conditioning theory.
• E.G. TOPIC 2: The use of cooperative learning approach for encouraging students’
interaction among multicultural groups.
o What are the processes involve in cooperative learning approach that teacher
uses in his/her classroom?
o What are the perceptions/reactions of students when they involve in the
activities using cooperative learning approach?
• E.G. TOPIC 3: The effectiveness of teacher’s teaching practice: Students’ perception,
teacher’s reflection and observers’ observation
o Students’ rating and view on teacher’s teaching practice (how do they rate the
teacher in terms of his/her teaching practice? How do they perceive the
effectiveness of the teacher’s teaching practice?)
o Teacher’s reflection on teaching processes/class activities in improving
his/her teaching practice (how does this teacher view or perceive his/her
teaching practice? What are the mechanism that he/she uses to evaluate
his/her own teaching practice?)
o Observers’ perception on the effectiveness of the teacher’s teaching practice
(what are the criteria that observers’ use to evaluate the teacher’s teaching
practice?)

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• OTHER TOPICS: You can come out with your own idea in terms of the phenomenon
that you want to investigate in relation to any model or theory in educational psychology.
Please refer to your textbook for ideas or discuss with your friends etc.

• There are four stages of this particular research. The four stages are:
o Stage 1: Identification of in-classroom case/phenomenon to be studied
▪ Discussion with a teacher/group members/instructor
▪ Brainstorming of ideas with the members of your group
▪ Presentation of your group plan in group (share your plan with your
members)

o Stage 2: Fieldwork
▪ Classroom observation
▪ Brainstorming/discussions based on classroom observation –
“grounded”
▪ Identification of the issue under study – advanced level

o Example: Interview with the classroom teacher if the issue that you want to
explore is about classroom management
▪ To support classroom observation
▪ Justifications by the teacher of/for her/his actions or views on one or
more classroom activity(s) that you observe that he/she uses to control
his/her class.

o Stage 3: Discussion of “findings”

▪ Finding theoretical/conceptual support for the
observations/interviews.
▪ Reflective session from members of the group – what have they
learned throughout the experience – knowledge of educational
psychology and its relation to teacher professionalism

o Stage 4: Write up report and prepare for verbal presentation

▪ Refer to the given guideline below.

Additional information: Each group need to have your mini proposal (it is optional to
submit it to me for feedback before week 7 through email) prior to data collection [which
might be done during the semester break (Week 8)]. Just make it in a point format and
should not more than 2 pages.
Your proposal should include the following:
o The case/event/phenomenon that you want to observe
o The duration, place and participants (who will get involve in your study? Is it
teachers? Is it students?
o The method(s) for data collection (Are you using survey/behavior
checklist/interview?)

Guidelines for writing the report:

• Describe your observation of a particular event. For example, if you want to
explore about the use of operant conditioning in classroom, you may choose ONLY

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one aspect such as the application of reward and punishment as a means to enhance
students’ participation on a particular activity based on operant conditioning theory.
o What are the processes involved that teacher applies to enhance students’
participation?
o How does teacher reward or punish a student/students? What is the frequency
of the reward or punishment?
o What do you think about the processes (in terms of its effectiveness, preparation,
difficulty, challenges etc.)?
o What are the perceptions of students on that practice? (Observe the behaviors
of the students etc.)
• Relate your observation with any model/theory that you learn in class (if relevant). In
this sense, be reflective on what you observe and relate it with what is learned or
discussed in class.
• Include information about
o the duration and place of the observation (where and when it takes place)
o the name of the teacher and class that you observe (you may also state the
subject that particular teacher teaches during your observation) IF you involve
them
o the demographic characteristics of the teacher and students
▪ For teacher: years of teaching experience, education background, race
etc.
▪ For students: number of students, ratio for gender and race in that
particular class etc.
▪ For school: how many staff, teachers, students in that school, year of
establishment etc.

IMPORTANT: Your report must have the following criteria (range of pages excluding the
references and appendices are 7-15 pages):

i. Introduction
Explain the scenario/behavior that you observe in education setting (e.g. classroom
or anywhere within school area). Give justification (reason) of why your group
chooses that particular scenario/behavior specifically. Describe the relevant
theories/concepts of educational psychology in relation to the scenario/behavior
that you observe.

ii. Methodology
Since you have not taken any research methodology class yet, your description of
the observation (how you collect data) should have the following elements:

i. Description of the observed participants (e.g. teachers, students etc.)

characteristics.
ii. Description of the location/setting. Provide sufficient information about
the setting (e.g. school, classroom, or any area within school boundary)
where your observation takes place.
iii. Description on how you collect the data (how do you record your
observation – recording, written field notes etc., how long do you observe
or collect the data, what are other methods that you use to collect data –
do you use survey?)

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iii. Findings
Since you have not taken any research methodology class yet, your description of
the data analysis and findings (how you analyze and synthesize the data) should
have the following elements:
i. Description of the scenario/occurrence of the observed behavior in
relation to specific theory/concept of educational psychology that you
learn in class.
ii. Provide your own reflection about the scenario/behavior that you have
observed in class. Provide your own insight based on your own
understanding of the relevant theories/concepts of educational
psychology.

iv. Conclusion
Conclude the report with overall description of the scenario/behavior in relation to
relevant theories/concepts.

v. References
Provide a list of references that you use to refer the relevant theories/concepts of
educational psychology.

vi. Attachment/Appendices
Provide the following as your appendices
i. Meeting schedules
Your meeting schedules must have the following elements:
1. Attendance of members
2. Plan of discussion (what do you want to discuss during the
meeting? etc.)
3. Plan of action (what will be done by whom?, when is it
expected to be done? etc.)
4. Additional information like remarks to indicate the progress of
an action or challenges that need to be overcome etc.
ii. Individual reflection
Each member need to provide their own reflection. An extra mark will
be given to individual who provides insightful reflection (just in case if
you might need 0.5 marks to get a better grade). It should NOT be more
than 1 page.
iii. Relevant materials such as survey, interview or observation protocol that
you use as research instrument to collect your data, pictures that you take
during observation etc.

Note: You need to request a letter from the office of Faculty of Education prior to going to
go to school to conduct your observation/interview. The letter will contain your information
as student of Faculty of Education, UTM Skudai (Name, Matric number, programme e.g.
SPH and course [SPPP 1012 Educational Psychology].

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4. Presentation of report (20%)

Date: Week 14 and 15
This is a group assignment (Please refer to the given rubric as a guideline). Your group
member should not be more than 4* members (*depends on the total number if students in
a section). Each group is assigned to present their report verbally face-to-face from Week
14 to 15.

Each member has to present because the marks will be given INDIVIDUALLY. Each
group is allocated 10-15 minutes to present their work. Please prepare a short, simple and
precise power points slides (or you can use Pretzi if you want) that appropriate for the
allocated time. Each group is assigned to present their group work. All members of a group
are expected to work cooperatively to produce a good summary and present it to the class.

Assessment based on Final Examination (40%)

Final examination consists of sixty (60) multiple choice questions (MCQ) which constitutes 40%.
Questions covered all topics taught (based on Lesson Plan) throughout the semester. Time allocated
for answering is 1 ½ hours. There will be English and Malay version of the final exam question.
But if there is any inconsistency in both versions, please refer to the English version (it is the original
version).

FINAL NOTE FROM ME:

Please do not hesitate to let me know anything relating to challenges and difficulties that you face
while taking this particular course at any point when you face such challenges and difficulties. I do
not care much about the grades that you will get, but I CARE a lot about the progress that you will
make in this class even though it is small and seems insignificant at the moment.

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