Scope of Educational Psychology🪐🌏|| What is the main scope of psychology...

SCOPE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Educational psychology is applied to the educative process from birth to death of an individual. The educative process includes the following areas of education for the learner:

1. 'Learner.' Developmental characteristics, individual differences, intelligence, personality and mental health. 2. Learning Process. Psychology of learning, motivation of

learning, factors affecting learning, diagnosis of learning problems.) Evaluation of Learning Performance. Use of statistical methods in education and conducting research on educational

problems.

CONTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

One simple question may be asked as to why should educational psychology be taught to prospective teachers in training colleges? In the following pages, we will examine the contribution of educational psychology to education: Educational psychology helps teachers in the following ways.

A. Contribution to the Theory of Education

1. To Understand Developmental Characteristics. Children pass through different stages of development as infancy, childhood and adolescence. These developmental stages have their own characteristics. If the prospective teacher knows the characteristics, emerging at different stages of development, he can utilise these characteristics in imparting instruction and moulding their behaviour according to the specified goals of education.

2. To Understand the Nature of Classroom Learning. The knowledge of educational psychology provides a teacher with the knowledge of the learning process in general and problems of classroom learning in particular. It also helps in developing a comprehensive theory of classroom learning. We know from our daily experience in schools that some teachers are more successful in the classroom than others. Some communicate the very effectively subject matter in class to students and some fail irrespective of their knowledge of the subject matter. What makes this difference? Definitely, to be successful in the class, a teacher must know something other than the subject. It is the knowledge of the science of behaviour which makes the difference. He must understand the students he teaches, their developmental characteristics, their abilities and the influence and contribution of the heredity environment in the process of an individual's personality. To instruct effectively in the class, the teacher must understand the principles of learning and various approaches to the learning process, problems of learning and their remedial measures. It also gives the knowledge of various approaches to understanding the learning process, factors affecting and guidance for effective learning.

3. To Understand Individual Differences. No two individuals are alike in the world. The teacher has to face a class of 30 to 50 students who have a great range of individual differences. The teacher with the help of the knowledge of the kind of individual differences may adjust his teaching to the needs and the requirements of the class. He may also study the factors which are responsible for individual differences. He may be helpful in creating a conducive environment in the schools where the students can develop their inherent potential to the maximum

4. To Understand Effective Teaching Methods. Everyday experience shows that a lack of proper methods of teaching sometimes results in failure of communication in the classroom. Educational psychology gives us knowledge of appropriate methods of teaching. It helps in developing new strategies for teaching. Valid psychological principles not only suggest new techniques of teaching-learning but also eliminate many traditional practices which have become obsolete in the present context. Classroom teaching is not dependent on any one theory. It is related and uses several theories of teaching-learning. The teacher must be acquainted with the knowledge of various theories in order to organize his classroom teaching. Educational psychology provides us with the knowledge of different approaches evolved to tackle the problems of teaching at different age levels.

5. To Understand the Problems of Children. By studying educational psychology, a teacher may understand the causes of the problems of children which occur at different age levels and can successfully solve them. There is a great difference in the method of solving problems of children by a trained and untrained teacher. The teacher who is familiar with the fundamental principles of human behaviour applies his knowledge of psychology to solve problems.

6. Knowledge of Mental Health. The mental health of the teacher and the teacher is very important for efficient learning. The teacher from the study of psychology can know the various factors which are responsible for mental ill-health and maladjustment. He can be very helpful to prevent maladjustment in children provided that the prospective teacher is equipped with the fundamental knowledge of mental hygiene.7. Curriculum Construction. Psychological principles are also used in formulating curriculum for different stages, Needs of the students, their developmental characteristics, learning pattern and needs of the society. all these are to be incorporated into the curriculum. The curriculum in recent years includes the needs of the individual and society so that maximum transfer may occur from school to social situations.

8. Measurement of Learning Outcome. Psychological tools help the teacher to assess the learning outcome of the students. He can also evaluate his teaching methods and in light of the performance of his students can modify his strategy of teaching,

9. Research. Educational psychology helps in developing tools and devices for the measurement of various variables which influence the behaviour and performance of students. We can control, direct and predict the behaviour of students on the basis of research studies in classroom teaching.

10. Guidance for the Education of Exceptional Children. The most important single contribution of educational psychology is the provision and organization of education for exceptional children who had been neglected and devoid of educational facilities.

11. Helps to Develop a Positive Attitude. If we examine the activities and curriculum of a training college, we find that teachers' training programme aims to develop positive attitudes towards the teaching profession and provide prospective teachers with the necessary competencies to meet classroom challenges. They develop confidence in trainees to face problems and adaptability to deal with respected problems in daily classroom teaching. Training colleges provide knowledge of organizing the subject matter in sequential order which suits the needs of the class. The trainees are acquainted with the techniques of motivating children in learning. The trainees are acquainted with the hazards of teaching as a profession and how to maintain the mental health of themselves and their students.

12. Understanding of Group Dynamics. In recent years educational psychologists have recognized the importance of social behaviour and group dynamics in classroom teaching-learning. The teacher must know about the operations which work in a total social environment and their effect on learning.