Educational Psychology - Open Textbook Library

Reviewed by Abigail Dutcher, Assistant Professor, University of Saint Francis on 10/3/25

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

Missing is explicit integration of trauma-informed practice, social-emotional learning, and current neuroscience, which are increasingly emphasized in teacher prep.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

The book explains Bloom’s framework in its traditional form (knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation). That version is now considered somewhat dated.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content in Educational Psychology is generally up-to-date for foundational teacher preparation. While some examples (e.g., references to NCLB-era accountability or early computer access in classrooms) are dated, the core theories, models, and practices (learning theories, motivation frameworks, developmental psychology, assessment basics, classroom management strategies) remain relevant to pre-service teachers.

Clarity rating: 5

The prose is clear, examples are relatable, and necessary context is consistently provided for technical terminology.

Consistency rating: 5

Terminology and framework remain consistent throughout, which enhances clarity and supports cumulative learning for pre-service teachers.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is highly divisible, logically segmented, and easy to realign with subunits of a course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Topics are presented logically, with clear progression and internal chapter organization that supports comprehension.

Interface rating: 4

The text is free of significant interface issues. It is easy to navigate as a PDF, with a functional table of contents and clearly labeled subsections. Images, charts, and tables display without distortion, and the overall layout avoids distractions that might confuse readers.

That said, the text is currently limited to a PDF format. While this works well for basic accessibility, I would love to see it available on a more interactive online platform. A web-based version could allow for embedded media, hyperlinks to updated resources, and smoother integration into LMS platforms. This would further enhance usability for pre-service teachers who are accustomed to digital learning environments.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Inclusive and not offensive, with room to update examples to reflect contemporary culturally responsive practices.