5 credits
Students explore classic and contemporary learning and motivation theory in the context of educational settings. The theoretical ideas of the major paradigms of learning, such as behaviorism, gestalt, cognitivism, information processing, constructivism, and humanism as well as cognitive processes, such as language, memory, and intelligence, will be covered. Students examine the physiological, psychological, learned, social, cognitive, and emotional aspects of motivation as they apply to learning. They apply constructs such as culture and technology to their understanding of learning theory and student motivation to develop their own philosophy of teaching. Of particular focus is the application of theoretical concepts of learning and motivation to practical, real-world challenges found in present-day educational settings.