Psychology-Based Instructional Design Intern-M. ChavezAt — CSUF - College of Education

This internship offers the student an opportunity to apply psychological theories, research methods, and principles of human behavior in an educational context. By collaborating with faculty and educational support professionals, the student will assist in developing and redesigning instructional modules for future secondary education teachers enrolled in EDSC 340 Teaching Diverse Student Learners in Secondary Education, while gaining hands-on experience in educational research, curriculum development, lesson planning, and instructional design.

Learning Outcomes  

Internship Goals
The internship is designed to enable the student to:
1. Apply psychological concepts and theories to educational research and curriculum design.
2. Develop skills in evaluating scholarly literature and synthesizing evidence-based practices.
3. Design instructional activities and assignments that support student learning and engagement.
4. Gain experience with curriculum development in online and higher education environments.
5. Strengthen professional communication, independent project management, and collaboration skills.
6. Explore the intersection of psychology and education as preparation for a future career in teaching.

Training  

Supervision and Mentoring
The internship will be supervised by Dr. Minerva S. Chávez. Supervision will include:
• Initial project planning meeting.
• Ongoing guidance regarding research and curriculum development.
• Regular feedback on project deliverables.
• At least two scheduled check-in meetings during the first month and biweekly meetings as needed throughout the semester.
• Evaluation of progress toward internship goals and learning outcomes. [

Expected Outcomes
By the conclusion of the internship, the student will submit:
1. Annotated bibliography of scholarly sources.
2. Research summary and recommendations report.
3. Proposed revisions for an existing instructional module.
4. At least three newly developed instructional activities or assignments.
5. Reflective summary describing the application of psychological principles to educational practice.
6. Documentation of completed internship hours.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the internship, the student will be able to:
• Apply psychological research to educational contexts.
• Analyze and synthesize scholarly literature.
• Design instructional materials grounded in psychological theory.
• Demonstrate professional collaboration and communication skills.
• Evaluate educational practices through a research-informed lens.
• Reflect critically on the relationship between psychology and teaching practice.

Methods of Evaluation
Student performance will be evaluated through:
• Quality of literature reviews and research products.
• Completion of curriculum-development activities.
• Achievement of agreed-upon project milestones.
• Participation in supervisory meetings.
• Professionalism, initiative, and independent work.
• Completion and documentation of the required 120 internship hours.

Tasks/Duties  

Major Responsibilities
1. Scholarly Research and Literature Review
The intern will:
• Collaborate with the College of Education librarian to identify relevant scholarly literature.
• Review research abstracts and articles focused on emotional intelligence, social and emotional learning, psychology in education, gender and identity topics, and related educational themes.
• Create annotated bibliographies and research summaries.
• Compile evidence-based recommendations for curriculum improvement.
2. Curriculum and Module Development
The intern will:
• Evaluate existing instructional materials.
• Recommend revisions to the Emotional Intelligence module from a psychology perspective.
• Propose activities, readings, discussions, and assignments aligned with course outcomes.
• Assist in redesigning an existing module or developing a new module, based on project needs and research findings.
• Explore potential development of specialized content related to psychology, gender, identity, or men's experiences in education when appropriate.
3. Instructional Design and Lesson Planning
The intern will:
• Design learning activities that encourage critical reflection and engagement (Habits of Mind).
• Develop assessment ideas, discussion prompts, and activities for online and in-person classes.
• Create instructional materials informed by psychological theory and educational best practices.
• Align proposed activities with course learning objectives.
4. Teaching Support Activities
The intern may:
• Assist with reviewing and providing recommendations regarding discussion activities.
• Support course improvement efforts by analyzing student engagement and instructional effectiveness.
• Participate in discussions regarding effective strategies for online teaching and learning.