Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Education Practice

The Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice is an 18 unit course offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work on campus, or fully online or in a combination of both modes.

The Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice encapsulates a critical and contemporary understanding of cognitive psychology in educational practice. It is professionally oriented and is intended for people currently employed in the field of education, those who would like to be so employed, and those who have an interest in expanding their knowledge and practice with a focus on understanding and renewing teaching and learning.

The Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice articulates with the Master of Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice.

The course is also available as an exit award from the Master of Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice upon completion of 4 core topics from the Master of Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice.

• Admission requirements
  
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The course aims to provide students with opportunities to:

• interrogate the field of cognitive psychology for learning and investigate its application to problems that arise in learning and teaching in a range of educational contexts and modalities
• improve understandings of learners’ motivation, cognition and metacognition
• articulate scholarly views for informed, constructive debate increasing professional reflective practice through the lens of cognitive psychology and educational practice
• enhance critical thinking, problem-solving and research skills to enable them to engage in critical reflection on and inquiry into theoretical and practical application to problems that arise in learning and teaching
• increase knowledge and skills, necessary to uphold ethical research standards and practices into design thinking and educational practices
• apply knowledge gained from readings, discussions and writing into educational practices in exploration of increased self-regulated learning

Learning outcomes 

On completion of this course you will be able to:

• critically read, analyse and synthesise current theory and research in the field of Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice
• evaluate and apply knowledge of selected areas of contemporary theoretical and existing bodies of research
• relate theories and the findings from research studies and apply to authentic teaching-learning practices
• appraise learners motivation, cognition and metacognition in contexts relevant to them
• design, conduct, and evaluate a small, directed research project in the field of Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice
• extend informed debate about research, practice and policy in the field of Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice
• combine ethical research standards and practices into learning design and educational practices

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice, a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP, or better, in each topic according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 topics

18 units comprising:

 EDUC8731  Motivation, Cognition and Metacognition in Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9732  Teaching to Develop Motivation, Cognition and Metacognition  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9733  The Psychology of Learning and Instruction  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9734  Applications of Psychology to Learning and Instruction  (4.5 units)