Positive psychological perspectives to educational psychologyLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

Having completed the course, the student
- is familiar with and recognises human resources and underpinnings of wellbeing in various life situations and phases of life.
-understands the most salient problem settings of positive psychology and the opportunities and strengths of human development as individual and communal processes
- can apply the research knowledge of positive psychology in supporting education and development

Content

The course addresses the human resources brought out by positive psychology as well as its core concepts, such as happiness, wellbeing and optimism. The main focus of the course is on the educational psychology of human wellbeing. Through theoretical and research examples, students examine the strengths and choices that help people to quickly adapt to the changing world without forgetting the significance of negative experiences.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Scale (essay):

Satisfactory (1-2)
0 The student is not familiar with the core concepts of positive psychology or the characteristics of research within the subject area. The student’s educational psychological understanding of positive psychology and the student’s ability to apply educational psychological knowledge to promotion of education and development are weak. The essay demonstrates serious weaknesses or mistakes, or includes considerable misunderstandings.
1 The study attainment demonstrates that the student is familiar with the core concepts of positive psychology and theory construction within research on the subject and identifies the educational psychological perspective on human resources and prerequisites for well-being during different life events and phases. The essay is overly concise, superficial, or responds poorly to the assignment specifications. The essay presents items of information in a list-like manner or the items presented remain unconnected from each other, or phenomena are addressed in an overly one-sided manner, and the essay includes no reasoned applications or conclusions.
2 The study attainment demonstrates that the student has the ability to apply the core concepts of positive psychology and the ability to apply the characteristics of theory construction related to research on education and development. The student understands the educational psychological perspective on human resources and prerequisites for well-being during different life events and phases. The essay demonstrates the student’s ability to apply knowledge and to draw conclusions.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3-4)
3 The study attainment demonstrates that the student has the ability to identify the set of concepts of positive psychology, human resources and well-being and the related structures and models of theory construction within educational psychology. The student is able to organise and reason about research related to positive psychology as well as the characteristics of such research as part of the discussion within educational psychology and educational sciences. The student identifies causal relations, distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information, and compares and contrasts information. The essay responds well to the assignment specifications and demonstrates comprehension of the subject as well as analysis and reasoning skills.
4 The study attainment demonstrates that the student has the ability to combine ideas and sets of concepts and to gain new insights. The student is able to move from the specific to the general and to examine social and ethical phenomena of education and training in the framework of educational sciences. The student is able to make generalisations and summarise the relevant information and to create hypotheses and new openings.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
5 The study attainment demonstrates that the student has the ability to make assessments based on reasoned arguments. The student is able to present arguments pro and contra positions, and to create criteria as well as to assess and test them. The student is able to analyse the key characteristics of concept formation in educational psychology on the basis of research on positive psychology, human resources, and well-being. The essay grasps the big picture of the topic and knowledge is applied multidimensionally or situated in different contexts. The essay demonstrates an independent approach and insight. The essay forms a coherent whole and demonstrates capacities for reasoned, independent thought or critical reflection. The essay is well written or well executed.

Materials

Getting familiar with the research (select two articles from the Article Bank) and performing the mandatory literature (select three publications from entities 1, 2 and 3) by writing an essay based on the research articles and literature.

Article Bank:
The perspective of growth, development and support
Love and relationships
Positive pedagogy and learning
Well-being and success at work
Drawing from the Arctic
Sustainability in Educational Psychology

Literature: Select three works from entities 1, 2 and 3. You may also choose a Finnish work if you are familiar with Finnish.

Further information

Time: Second period
You may also perform the course as summer studies.

Responsible teacher: Sanna Hyvärinen
Person responsible for minor studies: Professor Satu Uusiautti

Evaluation and credits: Essay 5 cr., grading 5–1 or fail.