Developmental Studies 101: Psychological

Approaches & Student Success

Presented By: Andrea JonesEducator as Researcher

Psychological Approaches & Student Success

Research shows that a variety of psychological and social skills are critical to student success in college, the workplace, and a healthy transition into adulthood. Schools can help by incorporating many of these skills through approaches that connect curricula content with a more personalized and meaningful application.

Psychological Approaches & Student Success

• Students experience greater enjoyment towards their learning environment.

• Students engage in dialogue and collaboration among peers.

• Application of learning towards life experiences outside of the classroom.

What Is Engagement

According to motivational theories, the engagement construct is internalized by the student and is the cornerstone of motivation; so that when the student sees that his/her social environment provides a basic psychological need, motivation will thrive.

Engagement Multidimensional Connections

Student Motivation

Emotional

CognitiveBehavioral

Student Engagement

Student engagement is the idea of participation; it includes involvement in building relationships towards teachers, peers and others; and the investments one puts towards learning in achieving academic outcomes.

Social-Cognitive Model Applied to Educational Settings (Appleton et al, 2008).

Behavioral Engagement

Self- Regulation

Social AwarenessRelationship Skills

with others

Emotional Engagement

Relatedness

Emotional Regulation

Self Awareness of feelings

Cognitive Engagement

Competence

AcademicGrades

Standardize TestGraduation

Teacher Behavior towards Student Learning

The power of specific teachers’ behaviors as described in the psychological and educational literatures, would be the result of their effectiveness in providing for their students’ basic needs.

Teacher Behavior towards Student Learning

Relationship Building with Students

Instructional Strategies

Attentively listen to and/or observe student(s).

Encourage student(s) to share their ideas, opinions and concerns.

Engage personally with student(s).

Teachers: Relationship Building with Students

Teachers: Instructional Strategies

Communicate goals, purpose, expectations.

Verbally recognize student(s) efforts and accomplishments.

Ask student(s) to expand upon their answers and ideas.

Plan for/ask student(s) to work together.

Behavioral: less likely to have at – risk behavior

Cognitive: Better academic outcomes

Emotional: Reported more positive relationships with peers and parents

Benefits of Behavioral, Emotional and Cognitive Engagement on Student Success

Benefits of Engagement Strategies

Social Competence:Improve social problem solving (social cognitive)skills

Foster relationships with pro-social peers

Foster positive relationships with caring adults

Emotional Competence:

Better attitudes toward school and the future

Better school attendance

Source: Mary Terzian, Kristin Anderson Moore, Kathleen Hamilton , Child Trends

Learner Outcomes

Successful Students…..

Gain self-awareness

Adopt lifelong learning

• Consciously employing behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that keep them on course.

• Finding valuable lessons and wisdom in every experience.

Successful Students…..

Believe in themselves

Develop emotional intelligence

• Seeing themselves as capable, lovable, and unconditionally worthy human beings.

• Effectively managing their emotions in support of their goals and dreams.

Successful Students…..

Accept personal responsibility

Discover self-motivation

• Seeing themselves as the primary cause of their outcome and experience.

• Finding purpose in their discovering personally meaningful goals and dreams.

Successful Students…..

Master self-management

Employ interdependence

• Consistently planning and taking purposeful actions in pursuit of their goals and dreams.

• Building mutually supportive relationships that help them achieve their goals and dreams (while helping others do the same).

It is possible, that student engagement has the

greatest opportunity in increasing academic

achievement and reducing the achievement gap

among students.