Workshop

Developmental Psychology
Adolescence
Agenda
1. Task 8: tasks of the teacher (dossier)
2. Exercise: mix & match
3. Elements of development in adolescence
4. Exercise: come up with your own cases
5. Share with the rest of the class
Task 8 of the teacher: dossier
Pedagogical task: Guides the development of identity in pupils
- Reports and/or video/audio recordings of classroom discussions or individual interviews with a
learner

Idea:
Choose one of the elements of adolescence and explain how
you took that element into account when supporting students
in or outside the classroom.
Mix and Match!
Connect aspects of adolescence with possible interventions.
1. Differences in timing of physical growth A. Exploration activities in width and depth
and change

2. Biological clock is changing B. assessing intellectual capacity of students

at a later age

3. Development of cognitive abilities C. Changing group behaviour through leaders

in the group

4. Differences in timing of cognitive D. Starting schooldays at 9:00 instead of 8:00

development between students

5. Importance of peers, both in and out of

class.

6. Identity development: making choices

on relationships, career, lifestyle etc.
Elements of adolescence
1. Bodies are growing Students go through process of getting used to their new bodies.

2. Biological clock is ● Not enough sleep

changing ● Changing biological clock → tired later in the evening
● Many interesting things in their lives, also in the evening.
● But: they still have to get up early for school
AND still need 9 hours of sleep.
● Students sleep more in weekends → affects biological clock

3. Differences in timing of ● Early-ripe boys: show problematic behaviour, but are also popular.
physical growth and ● Late-ripe boys: less popular, but more intellectual curiousness.
changes ● Early-ripe girls: negative self-image, depression. But are popular.

4. Cognitive development ● Adolescents learn about:

- Hypothetical thinking
- Logical reasoning
- Abstract thinking
- Systematic research
Elements of adolescence
5. Gradual changes in ● Learn to think quicker
thinking ● Get a better working memory
● Get better at dealing with distractions
● Use more effective strategies
● Acquire more knowledge about how to learn
● Get better self-regulation skills

6. Differences in timing Reasons:

of cognitive development ● Intelligence
between students ● Environment (what kind of education?)
● Timing

7. Importance of peers ● Important to be part of the group.

● Part of the norm, and not to stand out too much.
● Being independent from parents. But parents do still play an
important role.

8. Identity development: ● Exploration: trying out new things, exploring.

making choices on ● Commitment: making a decision and sticking with it for a longer
relationships, career, period.
lifestyle etc.
Exercise: come up with your own cases and ideas
1. Choose one or more elements of adolescence.

2. Come up with experiences/situations from your internship/job that relate to these

elements of adolescence.
○ Come up with ideas on how to deal with that situation, in relation to the elements
of adolescence.

3. What could be your role as a teacher in adolescence development?

Share your ideas