By Ms. Qurrat-ul-Ain
Keywords;
what is psychology? Concept of educational psychology, definitions of
psychology, educational psychology: meaning and definitions, what is education?
Scope of educational psychology, importance of educational psychology, importance of educational psychology
for the teachers
Concept
of educational Psychology
What is psychology? The
term "psychology" is derived from two Greek words – psyche (soul)
and logos (science or study). Thus, literally it means study or science
of soul. But now it is no more considered as science of soul. It has moved away
from this focus and established itself as a scientific discipline which deals
with the various processes and behavior of organism. Most of the contemporary
psychologists agree on a definition of psychology as the scientific study of behavior
and mental processes of organism.
There are three key terms in the above
definition of psychology which have been clarified below: Scientific
study means using techniques such as observation, description, and
experimental investigation to collect information and then organizing this
information. Mental processes refer to private and cognitive
process such as attention, perception, remembering (memory), problem-solving,
reasoning, decision-making, feelings, thinking, motives etc.
Definitions of Psychology •
Psychology is the science of the activities of individual in relation to the
environment (Woodworth). • Psychology is the positive science of behaviour
(Watson). • Psychology is the science of human behavior and experience (Cruze).
• Psychology is the science of mental activity of an organism (Guilford). •
According to Charles E. Skinner, psychology deals with the responses to any and
every kind of situation that life presents. By responses or behaviour is meant
all forms of processes, adjustments, activities, and experiences of the
organism.
Behaviour refers
to all the actions or reactions of an organism (person or animal) in response
to external or internal stimuli. The behavior of an individual, in a broad
sense, refers to anything the individual does. According to Leagans (1961), behavior
refers to what an individual knows (Knowledge), what s/he can do (skill –
mental or physical), what s/he thinks (attitude), and what s/he actually does.
Behaviour may be simple or complex, short or
enduring. Human behavior may be overt (expressed outside) or covert
(expressed inside). While symbolic adoption is an example of covert
behaviour, use adoption is an example of overt behavior. Both overt and covert
behaviour can be measured. People who study psychological phenomena are not
necessarily limited to the study of human beings only; they also study the
behaviour of animals. They study the behavior and mental processes of
individual not of group/community. Thus, when they are studying groups, the
focus is generally on how individuals perform within the group rather than the
study of the group as a whole.
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY: MEANING AND DEFINITIONS
What is education? In order to know the
educational psychology; we have to first understand what is education. The
world education is derived from Latin word educare which means to bring-up.
Education is also derived from another Latin world educere which means
to lead out. Education as educere is more acceptable as it means
leading an individual from ignorance to knowledge.
Education can be
defined as the process of imparting or acquiring knowledge and habits through
instruction or study. It can also be defined as a process in which human
behaviour is modified so as to be in closer agreement with some model or ideal
determined by the values of society. If education is to be effective, it should
result in changes in all the behavioural components.
What is educational psychology?
Educational Psychology is a combination or
overlapping of two separate fields of study; psychology and education. It is a
distinct discipline with its own theories, research methods, problems and
techniques. Educational psychology is distinct from other fields of psychology
due to its focus on understanding the processes of teaching and learning that
takes place in formal environments. Educational psychologists study what people
think and do as they teach and learn a particular curriculum in a particular
environment where education and training are intended to take place. They help
in developing instructional methods and materials used to train people in both
educational and work settings. They are also concerned with research on issues
of relevance for education, counseling and learning problems.
Educational psychology deals with behavior of
human beings in educational situation for definitions of educational
psychology). This means that educational psychology is concerned with the study
of human behavior or human personality, its growth, development, guidance under
the social process of education. Education is possible in human beings; hence,
human learning is the central core of educational psychology.
Definitions of
Educational Psychology
• Educational
psychology is that branch of psychology, which deals with teaching and
learning. It takes its meaning from education, social process and from
psychology, a behavioral science (Skinner).
• Educational
Psychology is the discipline concerned with teaching and learning processes; applies
the methods and theories of psychology and has its own as well (Woolfolk,
1995).
SCOPE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Educational
psychology deals with the behaviour of human beings in educational situations.
Its main concerned is to identify various psychological factors affecting
teaching and learning process. It describes and explains the learning according
to scientifically determined principles and facts concerning human behaviour.
Educational psychology addresses the questions – “why do some individual learn
more than others" and "what can be done to improve that
learning." Therefore, its subject matter is revolved around teaching and
learning process and educational psychologists attempt to discover:
• The extent to which
the factors of heredity and environment contribute to learning.
• The nature of the
learning process.
• The educational
significance of individual differences in rate and limit of learning.
• The inner change
that occur during learning.
• The relation of
teaching procedures to leaning outcomes.
• The most effective
techniques for evaluating progress in learning.
• The relative effect
upon an individual of formal learning as compared with incidental or informal
learning experiences.
• To value the
scientific attitude towards education.
• The psychological
impact upon learner’s attitude of sociological conditions.
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
The importance of
educational psychology in agricultural extension is immense as both disciplines
deal with human behavior in educational environment. Following are the some of
the reasons which explain the importance of educational psychology in
agricultural extension.
• Educational
psychology helps the extension agent to know the learner, his interest,
attitudes, aptitude, level of aspiration, intelligence, interests, individual behavior
in group, etc. which plays a major role in one's learning.
• Its main concern is
on teaching and learning. This helps in formulating training programmes for
improving the knowledge and skill of extension agent and farmers. It also helps
in selection of teaching methods and aids for organizing effective learning
situations and suggests technique of learning as well as teaching.
• It helps in
imparting better education by organizing the subject matter of learning
experience, preparation of different text books, development of assessment
patterns, etc for heterogeneous learners.
• Educational
psychology helps in acquainting learner with the mechanism of heredity and
environment.
• It also deals with
the problem-solving which is very important for extension agent to develop
problem-solving skills amongst farmers.
• It helps extension
agent to find causes of prejudices, the habit of sticking to old practices of
farming and ways of doing things, the doubts and lack of confidence and factors
affecting motivation.
• It also helps them
to know the emotions and feelings of learner
Need
and importance of the study of educational psychology for the teachers
1.
Understand the developmental characteristics
of the children
2.
Understand the nature of class-room learning
3.
To be aware of individual differences
4.
Be aware with effective teaching methods
5.
Understand the learning problems of the
children
6.
Know how to assess the learning outcomes of
the students
7.
Understand the principles of curriculum
constructions.
8.
Know the factors responsible for the mental
ill-health and maladjustment.
9.
Predict the behaviour of students on the
basis of research studies.
10. Organize
educational activities for exceptional students.
11. Help
students develop positive attitude.
12. Understand
student’s dynamics.
13. Organize
remedial instructional activities for children facing special difficulties.
14. Know
the nature of motivation in learning.
15. Be
aware of the possibilities and limitations of transfer of learning.
16. Be
familiar with the conditions associated with juvenile delinquency.
17. Be
aware of the causes of emotional disturbance in children.
18. Make
use of innovations particularly relating to method.
19. Handle
the problems of discipline in the classroom.
20. Keep
psychological considerations in framing of time table.
Choose any five points that you think are most important from the
above given list:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
