Abstrak
Educational psychology is the scientific study of how people learn and how teachers can foster learning. An understanding of these principles and how they can be applied to classroom situations is as crucial as it ever has been for the contemporary Australian school teacher, from early childhood through to secondary school. Australian school environments and students are changing. Many issues are having an impact on the dynamics of the contemporary learning and teaching environment, such as: • Increasing student diversity, including those with special needs • The pervasive impact of technology • The introduction of the Australian National Curriculum • The public reporting of school NAPLAN results. This text prepares pre-service teachers for their profession by encouraging reflective practice and critical thinking. It helps inform the ‘practical' teaching experience and develop skills through thought-provoking questions, activities and lesson plan analysis. It is suited for educational psychology subjects taught to student teachers from all sectors - early childhood, primary, middle and secondary.