Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community In this course we will expand our understanding of learning and teaching while engaging with the local school community, including professionals and stakeholders who support K-12 students in various roles. We will examine curriculum theory, teaching theories, and practices that support social-emotional as well as proficiency-based learning, trauma-informed teaching, and the use of personalized learning plans to support student growth and development.  In this way, students will continue to understand and develop effective instructional practices, the design of optimal learning environments, meaningful assessment tools, and effective and engaging teaching strategies for diverse, inclusive, innovative, student-focused classrooms.

Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools In this course we will expand our understanding of learning and teaching while exploring principles, issues, and research in educational psychology. We will examine learning theories, complex cognitive processes, cognitive and emotional development, and motivation, and apply these constructs to effective instruction, the design of optimal learning environments, assessment of student learning, and teaching in diverse classrooms.

Mindfulness in Education: Radical, Holistic Models of Learning What is mindfulness? And how is it useful in reframing approaches to education for engaged, critical learning?  In this course we will explore the impact of contemplative practices in education, considering such questions as: what is learning and how does divergent or mindful thinking influence how we learn? For example, is there a connection between mindfulness and creativity, attention, memory? We will engage in contemplative practices to consider mindful learning from a personal perspective and review research in the fields of education and psychology that suggests a positive correlation between contemplative practices and the intellectual, emotional, and psychological growth of students.

Education in the USA What are schools for? What makes education in a democracy unique? What counts as evidence of that uniqueness? What roles do schools play in educating citizens in a democracy for a democracy? In this course, we will engage these questions while investigating education as a social, cultural, political, and economic process. We will develop new understandings of current policy disputes regarding a broad range or educational issues by examining the familiar through different ideological and disciplinary lenses.

Sophomore Seminar in the Liberal Arts The current pandemic, and all the questions it brings to the fore about what we value in a college experience, make this an ideal moment to consider the meaning and purpose of your liberal arts education. At the heart of this exploration will be a question posed by physicist Arthur Zajonc: “How do we find our own authentic way to an undivided life where meaning and purpose are tightly interwoven with intellect and action, where compassion and care are infused with insight and knowledge?” We will examine how, at this pivotal moment of decision making, you can understand your college career as an act of “cultivating humanity” and how you can meaningfully challenge yourself to take ownership of your intellectual and personal development. Through interdisciplinary and multicultural exploration, drawing from education studies and philosophical, religious, and literary texts, we will engage our course questions by way of student-led discussion, written reflection, and personal, experiential learning practices. In this way we will examine how a liberal arts education might foster the cultivation of an ‘undivided’ life, “the good life”, a life well-lived.

Melissa Hammerle

Reviews and ratings for Melissa Hammerle at Middlebury College.Melissa Hammerle teaches Ed Psyc: In the Community, Educational Psychology, Mindfulness in Education and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Melissa Hammerle good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Melissa Hammerle is one of the most compassionate, understanding and caring professors at Middlebury. Have taken three classes with her and have loved each and every moment of them. She is very passionate about what she teaches and will do whatever she can to help you understand the material.

Professor Hammerle is one of my favorite professors at Middlebury. I took Ed in the US my first semester at Midd and learned so many interesting things about the education system. She really cares about her students and gives thoughtful feedback on your work. 

Professor Hammerle is very enthusiastic and engaging in this class which is contagious. This course, like most First Year Seminars, was very writing intensive. As a result, I would highly recommend staying on top of your assignments and planning ahead at the beginning of the semester. Professor Hammerle helps students understand mindfulness in the context of pedagogy as well as other aspects of life. With that being said, a lot of the mindfulness vocabulary can become repetitive and the readings seem to be similar in their nature. 