Introduction to Educational Psychology - Ch2 PDF

Implication of Education Psychology Page 1 of 6 Chapter 2 Introduction to Educational Psychology The Objectives of Second Topic: “Introduction to Educational Psychology” Describe some basic ideas about the field of educationa...

Implication of Education Psychology Page 1 of 6 Chapter 2 Introduction to Educational Psychology The Objectives of Second Topic: “Introduction to Educational Psychology” Describe some basic ideas about the field of educational psychology. Understand the role of educational psychology in the classroom. Describe the types of professional knowledge and skills of effective teachers. (Identify the attitudes and skills of an effective teacher.) Describe the realities of diversity in classroom. Explain the characteristics of expert teachers.  Implication of Education Psychology Page 2 of 6 Educational Psychology Definition Educational Psychology is the branch of psychology that specializes in understanding teaching and learning in educational settings. It is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Wittrock & Farley stated that educational psychology is the science which concerned with the application, development, and evaluation of principles and theories of human learning (cited in Moreno, 2010). Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. Historical Background Educational psychology was established in the early history of modern psychology by three famous pioneers in psychology that in the late nineteenth century. William James, John Dewey, and E. L. Thorndike. William James published the first psychology textbook, Principles of Psychology (1890), in between (1842–1910) he gave a series of lectures called “Talks to Teachers” (James, 1899/1993) in which he discussed the applications of psychology to educating children. He emphasized the importance of observing teaching and learning in classrooms for improving education. One of his recommendations was to start lessons which challenges the child’s level of knowledge and understanding to elaborate his mind. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. John Dewey (1859–1952) an also an one famous in shaping the field of educational psychology, who lead the practical application of psychology and work through the first educational psychology laboratory in the United States in 1894. Believed in many important ideas which are: (1) the view of the child as an active learner. (2) the children learn best by doing. (3) education should focus on the whole child and emphasize the child’s adaptation to the environment. (4) he believed that children should learn how to think, how to be reflective problem solvers and adapt to a world outside school but only not be just narrowly educated in academic topics. (5) all children deserve to have a competent education for all children, girls and boys, as well as children from diff erent socioeconomic and ethnic groups.  Implication of Education Psychology Page 3 of 6 Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. The other famous pioneer in early stage of educational psychology was E. L. Thorndike (1874–1949), who excelled at doing exacting scientific studies of teaching and learning and focused on measurement and assessment and promoted the scientific fundamentals of learning. He emphasized the most important tasks is to encourage children’s reasoning skills. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. Teaching of Science & Art Teachers can be skillful in their approach to teaching in both science and art by experienced practice which play important roles in a teacher’s success and results of educational psychology researches because the educational psychology’s aim is to provide with research knowledge that can be effectively apply to teaching situations and with research skills that will enhance the understanding of what impacts student learning. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. The joys of teaching To witness the diversity of growth in students, and their joy in learning. To encourage lifelong learning; both for teachers and for students. To experience the challenge of devising and doing interesting, exciting activities for the learners. Seifert, K. and Sutton, R. (2009). Educational Psychology (2nd ed). Zurich, Switzerland: Jacobs Foundation. Professional Knowledge and Skills 1- Subject-Matter Competence: Effective teachers have good command of their subject matter and a solid core of teaching skills; having a thoughtful, flexible, conceptual understanding of subject.  Implication of Education Psychology Page 4 of 6 2- Instructional Strategies: At a broad level, two major approaches characterize how teachers teach: constructivist and direct instruction. 3- Thinking Skills: Effective teachers model and communicate good thinking skills, especially critical thinking. 4- Goal Setting and Instructional Planning: Teachers set high goals for their teaching and organize plans for reaching those goals. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. 5- Developmentally Appropriate Teaching Practices: Competent teachers have a good understanding of children’s development and know how to make instruction materials appropriate for their developmental levels. 6- Classroom Management Skills: Effective teacher keeps the class as a whole working together and makes an environment in which learning can occur. 7- Motivational Skills: Effective teacher has good strategies for assisting students become self-motivated and take responsibility for their learning. 8- Communication Skills: Competent teacher has skills in speaking, listening, overcoming barriers to verbal communication, tuning in to students’ nonverbal communication, and constructively resolving conflicts. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. 9- Paying More Than Lip Service to Individual Variations: Effective teacher can take individual variations into account when teaching. 10- Dealing with Students Diversity: Competent can work effectively with students from culturally diverse backgrounds. 11- Assessment Knowledge and Skills: Effective teacher also has good assessment knowledge and skills and can effectively using assessment in the classroom.  Implication of Education Psychology Page 5 of 6 12- Technological Skills: Technology itself does not necessarily improve students’ ability to learn, but it can support learning. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill. Role of Teacher in Digital Society The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS T) of the International Society for Technology in Education 1- Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity: Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face- to-face and virtual environments. 2- Design and develop digital learning experiences and assessments: Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the different knowledge, skills, and attitudes. 3- Model digital work and learning: Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. 4- Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility: Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. 5- Engage in professional growth and leadership: Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. How Can You Dealing with Different Students? (Students Diversity) The increasing diversity in the classroom has become one of the most significant realities for teachers. While the percentage of diversity between students  Implication of Education Psychology Page 6 of 6 is increasing rapidly, it emphasized the need for teachers to become knowledgeable about students’ backgrounds so that they can design instruction that is match to their needs. Therefore, the competent teachers reflect on their own biases, expectations, and practices to work effectively with diverse students and take into consideration individual differences within groups. Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Improving Relationships Among Learners From Different Groups (1) - jigsaw classroom; A classroom in which students from different cultural backgrounds cooperate by doing different parts of a project to reach a common goal. - Positive Personal Contact with Others from Different Cultural Backgrounds. - Perspective Taking; Exercises and activities that help students see other people’s perspectives can improve relations between them. - Technology Connections with Students Around the World; With advances in telecommunications, students can learn with and from teachers and students around the world. - Reducing Bias; Children especially benefit if they learn early in their lives to show respect for individuals from other groups other than their own. Increasing Tolerance; - Development of tolerance and respect for individuals from diverse ethnic groups is an important aspect of multicultural education. - The School and Community as a Team; a community team approach is the best way to educate students. Santrock, J. W. (2011). Educational Psychology (5th). USA: McGraw Hill.