Week 1 – Assignment: Identify a Connection Between a Theory and Practice

Instructions

For this task, acknowledging the diversity of students today, identify one particular challenge that interests you as it relates to today’s students in PK-12 classrooms. Your reading from Chapter 1 discusses several types of students from cultural differences, learning styles, disabilities, and whether or not English is their first language. Keep these in mind for your paper this week.

Your assignment is to write a paper in which you analyze one of the three major learning theories: constructivism, behaviorism, or cognitivism. Then, explore why learning theory is at the core of effective models of teaching. Include the following in your paper:

1. Offer an overview using a chart or narrative format of your chosen theory. The overview should include the definition and general implications of the theory;
2. Identify at least one prominent theorist associated with your chosen theory and describe the contributions of that theorist;
3. Explain how that theory is relevant or important in education and offer at least two examples of teaching approaches associated with your chosen theory.
4. Identify a particular area of student diversity (e.g., English Language Learners, gifted and talented, special education, disabilities, homeless) and then analyze the implications of the theory for a certain teaching practice as it relates to the type of student diversity you identified.

Length: 3-4 pages, not including title and reference pages

References: Include a minimum of 2 scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly resources, including seminal articles, may be included. You may find it helpful to visit the Curriculum and Teaching LibGuide.

Your written assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect graduate-level writing and APA standards. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University’s Academic Integrity Policy.