Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-198) and index.

1. Perspectives on learning: the cognitive approach -- Piaget -- Vygotsky -- Bruner -- Applications -- 2. Perspectives on learning: the behaviourist and humanistic approaches -- Behaviourist approach -- Applications of behaviourism -- Humanistic approach -- Applications of the humanistic approach -- 3. Assessing educational performance -- What is psychometrics? -- Types of psychometric tests -- Value of psychometric tests -- Types of performance assessments at different ages: the National Curriculum and Key Stages -- Specific ways in which educational performance can be assessed -- Value and limitations of assessment -- Implications of assessment and categorisation -- Implications of assessment and categorisation -- 4. Special educational needs -- Definitions of special educational need -- A global approach to assessment -- Who has special needs? -- Overview of some specific types of learning disabilities -- Strategies for educating children with special needs -- Dyslexia -- Gifted children -- 5. Cultural and gender diversity -- Differences in educational performance -- Gender -- Other factors -- Explanations for differential performance -- Why have girls succeeded? -- Why do some students from lower social classes and ethnic groups underachieve? -- Why do some beet the odds? -- Why do some boys underachieve despite benefits from social class? -- Strategies for improving educational performance -- 6. Learning and teaching styles -- Definitions -- Theories -- Measurement of learning styles -- Individual differences in learning styles -- Improving learning effectiveness and study skills -- 7. Motivation -- Definitions -- Types -- Theories -- Attribution theory -- Learned helplessness -- Improving motivation and reducing learned helplessness -- 8. Disruptive behaviour in school -- Definitions and types -- Effects -- Diagnosis -- Explanations/ causes/ interventions -- 9. Design and layout of educational environments -- Environmental psychology -- Physical features of the learning environment -- Effects of physical features on performance and feelings -- Creating better environmental conditions for learning -- 10. Study aids -- Improving your essay writing skills -- Key study.

1 2