PED3701 Assignment 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - DUE 30 July 2025

PED3701 Assignment 2 2025 (Answer Guide) - DUE 30 July 2025 PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION Question 1: Developmental Analysis (20 marks) a) Evaluation of Each Developmental Domain and Its Influence on Thabo’s Learning Experiences (8 marks) Physical development: Thabo is described as physically healthy and active, suggesting his gross and fine motor skills are within normal range for his age group. However, frequent fatigue likely caused by long commutes and poor home study conditions (e.g., lack of electricity) can impair his attention span, memory consolidation, and overall classroom performance. Sleep deprivation among adolescents is well-documented to negatively impact academic achievement and mental health (Beattie et al., 2015). Cognitive development: Thabo demonstrates strong skills in concrete operational tasks, especially in Mathematics and Life Sciences, aligning with Piaget’s theory that adolescents transition from concrete operational to formal operational thinking around this age. However, his difficulties with abstract thinking in English and History suggest an incomplete cognitive shift, potentially affecting subjects that require critical thinking, inference, and abstract reasoning (Piaget, 1972). This cognitive limitation can hinder performance in interpretive or analytical tasks. Emotional development: Thabo’s test-related anxiety reveals emotional regulation challenges, which are common during adolescence. While he shows confidence in group settings, high-stakes evaluation situations trigger anxiety that can impair retrieval