you will complete the Teacher Spotlight Interview and incorporate the many concepts and theories that we have discussed throughout the course into your final reflection.
PSY260 – Educational Psychology
Final Course Project
Due Date: Points: 100
Overview:
In the first unit of the course, we discussed what it means to be an intentional teacher and some of the
qualities that intentional teachers possess. Throughout the course, we have tied all of the theories and
course topics to the practice of intentional teaching. For this course project, you will complete a Teacher
Spotlight Interview and incorporate the many concepts and theories that we have discussed throughout
the course into your final reflection.
Teacher Spotlight Reflection Paper:
For this project, you will interview a teacher that you believe espouses many qualities of an intentional
teacher. This can be a teacher from your past, one of your children’s teachers, a teacher you work with,
or perhaps even a teacher in your community that you have heard great things about. This could even be
a college professor that you have had or know. You might even want to contact your local district and
inquire who last year’s “Teacher of the Year” was if you aren’t sure where to start for selecting your
interviewee. For your interview, use the Teacher Spotlight Interview Form provided to help plan and guide
your questioning. You do NOT have to submit this form. This is just to help guide you in your interview.
You also may use whatever questions that you choose. The questions on the form are just suggestions,
but you are encouraged to come up with your own questions or expand on the ones provided.
In your Reflection Paper, summarize the interview responses from your teacher interview. Make course
connections by tying these responses to the theories, concepts, and practices that we have discussed
throughout the course. Include your key takeaways from the interview and a discussion of which theories
most strongly drive the practices of the teacher you have interviewed. Elaborate on these course
connections.
An example: If the teacher states that they use a Token Economy system in their class to increase
student motivation, you would then discuss Skinner’s Operant Conditioning and Extrinsic Motivation as
well. These are both theories and concepts that were discussed in the course that inform this teacher’s
intentional practice of the use of Token Economies.
Requirements:
• The body of your reflection paper must consist of at least five (5) full pages with additional title
and reference pages, double-spaced with one-inch margins.
PSY260–EducationalPsychology FinalCourseProject
• Use at least three (3) scholarly sources in your work and include all reference citations in
correct APA formatting. You may use your textbook as one scholarly reference. Your paper must
be formatted according to APA guidelines.
• Use complete sentences and appropriate grammar and spelling. Be sure to read the criteria by
which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.
Guidance for Interview:
In your interview, ask a minimum of 10 questions. The purpose of these questions is to learn how the
teacher you have chosen to interview utilizes some of the principles of educational psychology that we
have been discussing throughout the course. How does this contribute to this teacher’s success and
intentional teaching practices?
Some possible suggestions for questions that you might ask your interviewee are:
• Do you teach differently than you did when you began teaching? How so? And why?
• Do you ever read research studies in professional journals? If so, how does this change the way
you teach?
• How has the study of educational research affected your teaching?
• What kinds of conclusions have you reached through informal research (your day to day
observations of your students)?
• What style of teaching do you prefer? Direct Instruction? Constructivist learning? A mix of both?
• How do you differentiate instruction for diverse learners?
• How do you manage classroom discipline?
These are just a few examples of questions that you could select for your interview, and you are not
limited to 10. Ask as many questions as you feel that you need to write a comprehensive reflection
paper.
Evaluation Rubric for Final Course Project
Criteria Deficient Development needed
Satisfactory Proficient
Reflection Paper Content
0-12 Points Reflection paper topics are minimally or not addressed. Opinions are offered, but arguments lack important information from
13-25 Points Reflection paper topics are minimally or not addressed. Opinions are offered, but arguments lack important information
26-35 Points Reflection paper topics are fairly well addressed. Arguments could be further elaborated with scholarly sources and relevant specific
36-45 Points Reflection paper topics are thoroughly addressed. Arguments are well elaborated and fully supported by scholarly sources and
scholarly sources. No specific details are provided, or a few specific details are provided, but they lack relevance. Project does not provide connections to the major concepts of the course
from scholarly sources. No specific details are provided, or a few specific details are provided, but they lack relevance. Project does not provide connections to the major concepts of the course
details. Project provides connections to a variety of the course concepts, though a few major concepts were missed or lacking detail.
relevant specific examples. Project provides clear connections to a wide variety of the major course concepts and shows clear evidence that the course materials were reviewed and understood
Resources 0-5 Points Required amount of resources was not used, or none of the resources were from appropriate sources.
6-7 Points Required amount of resources was used, but two were not from an appropriate source.
8 -9 Points Required amount of resources was used, but one was not from an appropriate source.
10 Points At least three scholarly resources were used from appropriate sources
Structure and Flow 0-5 Points Flow is poor. Paragraphing is inappropriate. Transitions are minimal or absent. Significant redundancy is evident.
6-7 Points Flow is adequate. Paragraphs may be too long or too short. Transitions are minimal, and redundancy is evident
8-9 Points Flow is good. Paragraphing is mostly appropriate. Transitions are present, and redundancies are minimal.
10 Points Flow is excellent. Paragraphing is clear, and transitions are smooth and consistent. Inappropriate redundancies are absent.
APA Citations/Formatting
0-5 Points APA citations are not included or have significant errors
6-7 Points APA citations are included but contain numerous errors.
8-9 Points APA citations are included, with minor errors
10 Points APA citations are included and are correct
Length Requirements
0-5 Points Body of paper is less than four pages in length. Margin and line spacing requirements may not be followed.
6-9 Points Body of paper is four to five pages in length, but margin and line spacing requirements are not followed
10-14 Points Body of paper is four pages in length, with one-inch margins, and line spacing is double- spaced
15 Points Body of paper is at least five full pages in length, with one inch margins, and line spacing is double- spaced
Clear and Professional Writing and format
0-5 Points Significant errors impede professional presentation.
6-7 Points Numerous errors somewhat interfere with professional presentation
8 -9 Points Few errors that do not impede professional presentation.
10 Points Writing and format are clear, professional, and error- free
