LEARNING PSYCHOLOGY A - L

The course aims to present contemporary theories of learning. Several aspects of learning will be described and analyzed: the mechanisms that regulate it, the cognitive processes involved, the metacognitive, motivational, and emotional aspects of it, as well as fundamental school learning and strategies used in studying.

Knowledge and understanding. Understanding of current theoretical, experimental, and applied developments in learning psychology. Adequate knowledge of the psychological mechanisms and processes that modulate learning, also in reference to advances in neuroscience. Adequate knowledge of fundamental school learning.

Applying knowledge and understanding. Ability to understand current theoretical, experimental, empirical, and applied developments of the discipline.

Making judgements. Ability to argue personal interpretations of the issues inherent to the study of learning.

Communication skills. Ability to present one's knowledge clearly and with proper language. Ability to communicate with specialists, using an appropriate psychological vocabulary and, at the same time, ability to communicate psychological concepts to non-specialists in a simple and correct way.

Learning skills. Ability to develop adequate learning skills that allow for continuous and autonomous updating of one's knowledge. Ability to consult specialized literature and use appropriate bibliographic and scientific resources to better define and develop one's study and research work.

Lectures. 

Foundations of psychology.

Attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.

• Learning and adapting to the environment; features of human learning.
• The study of learning in newborns; neurobiological mechanisms of learning.
• Main cognitive processes involved in learning: attention, perception, memory, thinking, and intelligence.
• Metacognitive, motivational, and emotional processes involved in learning.
• Consolidation and the role of sleep in learning.
• Fundamental school learning: reading and comprehension of the text, writing, and mathematics. Neuroscience and education.
• Autonomous and strategic study.
• Children and students with special educational needs.

1. Cornoldi C., Meneghetti C., Moè A., Zamperlin C. Processi cognitivi, motivazione e apprendimento. Il Mulino, 2018.
2. Dehaene S. Imparare. Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2019 (Capitoli: Introduzione, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). 

The assessment of learning takes place through a final exam, which ascertains the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills via a 45-minute written test.

The written test consists of 27 multiple choice questions (for each correct answer the score is 1) and 2 open questions (for each correct answer the score is 2). Both a wrong and/or an answered question are worth 0 points. If all 29 questions are correct, the final score is 30 cum laude. Minimum required passing score is 18.

The questions will focus on all topics covered in the course.

By way of example only, some sample questions are given below:

Sample question 1: describe what brain plasticity is.

Sample question 2: describe the role of attention in learning.

Sample question 3: describe how reading develops.