MEANING AND DEFINITION OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

This is the first unit of the second paper of Psychology of Learning. This course deals with the importance and contribution of educational psychology on the theory and practice of education. Every teacher is confronted with the problem of individual’s difference in the classroom. The purpose of this unit is to define the concept of educational Psychology. It describes meaning and nature of Educational Psychology. An attempt has also been made to describe the characteristics and meaning of learning.

MEANING AND DEFINITION OF EDUCATIONAL

PSYCHOLOGY

Educational Psychology and consists of two words Psychology and Education. While General Psychology is a pure science. Educational Psychology is its application in the field of education with the aim of socializing man and modifying his behavior. According to Crow and Crow Educational Psychology describes and explains the learning experiences of an individual from birth through old age. 

Skinner defines Educational Psychology as “that branch of Psychology which deals with teaching and learning”

Stephen – “Educational Psychology is the systematic study of the educational growth and development of a child.”

Judd – “Educational Psychology is the Science which explains the changes that take place in the individuals as they pass through the various stages of development.” 

Peel- “Educational Psychology is the science of Education.”

Educational psychology is one of the branches of applies psychology concerned with the application of the principles, techniques and other resource of psychology to the solution of the problems confronting the teacher attempting to direct the growth of children toward defined objectives. More specifically, we can say educational psychology is concerned with an understanding of:

• The child, his development, his need and his potentialities.

• The learning situation including group dynamics as the affect learning.

• The learning processes its nature and the ways to make it effective. Stated differently, the Central theme of Educational Psychology is Psychology of learning.

PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING

This area is concerned with such problems as: How do children acquire skills? When is learning more effective? What are the factors that help the learning Process? How do we measure the amount of learning? Are there any economic methods of memorizing? Why do we forget? Can memory be improved? Dose the study of Sanskrit helps than study of Hindi?

Psychology helps the teacher to get answers to these questions. It tells us that learning becomes more effective if factors like motivation and interest are taken into consideration by every teacher. The knowledge of psychology has helped the teacher in modifying her approach to the teaching learning process.

The study of educational Psychology has brought about change in the approach and therefore we have child centered education. Psychological principles are used in formulation curriculum for different stage. Attempts are made to provide subjects and activities in the curriculum which are in conformity with the needs of the students, their developmental characteristics, learning patterns and also needs of the society.