What is Ed Psych?

Summary

This script discusses the role of educational psychologists in addressing children's behavior and learning challenges. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader socio-cultural context influencing a child's actions, rather than labeling them as willful. The approach is ecological, involving various adults in a child's life and focusing on strengths to build positive behaviors. The script highlights the significance of evidence-based research and the development of support plans tailored to the child's needs, aiming to foster small but significant growth in their development.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Behavior is learned and can be unlearned, emphasizing the importance of environmental influences on a child's development.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The approach is ecological, involving various adults in a child's life to support their learning and behavior.
• 🧐 The term 'willful' is reframed as 'purposeful', suggesting that children's actions have underlying reasons influenced by their context.
• 🌟 Focus is on the child's environment and the adults within it, as these are the factors that can be influenced and changed.
• 🏡 The child is placed at the center of the support system, with family, extended family (whānau), and community all playing roles.
• 🏫 Recognizes the complexity of children's behavior in modern society, influenced by socio-cultural factors like poverty and food insecurity.
• 🖼️ The goal is to create a comprehensive picture of the child's life for all involved to understand and address their needs.
• 🗣️ Educational psychologists listen without judgment, building trust and confidence to better support children and their families.
• 🔍 They look at the wider socio-cultural context to understand and address the root causes of challenging behaviors.
• 🏗️ Interventions are strength-based, leveraging the strengths of the child and their family as the foundation for support plans.
• 📚 Evidence-based research is crucial in informing the strategies and interventions used by educational psychologists.

Q & A

What is the primary approach educational psychologists take when dealing with children's behavior?

Educational psychologists work with adults in a child's life to support the child's needs, focusing on learning and behavior. They believe that behavior is learned and can be unlearned, and they approach it ecologically, considering the context around the child rather than just the child's individual actions.

How do educational psychologists view challenging behaviors in children?

They view challenging behaviors as purposeful rather than willful, suggesting that it's more about the context around the child than what's happening within the child. This approach allows them to influence the environment to support the child.

What does an ecological approach in educational psychology entail?

An ecological approach means working across different environments and with various adults who are part of the child's life, including family, extended family, and community, to provide comprehensive support.

How do educational psychologists consider the wider socio-cultural context in understanding a child's behavior?

They consider factors such as poverty and food insecurity as part of the bigger picture influencing a child's behavior, recognizing that children's behavior is more complex due to societal developments.

What is the significance of gaining people's confidence in the process of educational psychology?

Gaining confidence is significant because it is built on the foundation of listening without judgment, which allows educational psychologists to understand the challenges faced by those involved and offer appropriate help.

How do educational psychologists address destructive behaviors in the classroom?

They build a comprehensive picture of what influences negative behavior and use this understanding to provide opportunities for children to practice positive behaviors, which are then acknowledged positively.

What is the role of positive acknowledgement in promoting pro-social behavior among children?

Positive acknowledgement serves as an antecedent that increases the likelihood of pro-social behavior happening, as it reinforces the positive actions practiced by the child.

How does a strength-based approach in educational psychology benefit the child and their family?

A strength-based approach involves seeking out the strengths of the family and the young person to use as the basis for intervention work, which can lead to more effective and empowering support.

Why is the support of an educational psychologist valuable for teachers?

Teachers may not be trained to diagnose conditions like dyslexia or dyspraxia. An educational psychologist can help develop programs that support the child both at home and at school.

How does evidence-based research impact the practice of educational psychology?

Evidence-based research is crucial as it provides the latest information and understanding, which educational psychologists use to inform their decisions and interventions in the field.

What steps do educational psychologists take after identifying a child's behavioral needs?

They may return to conduct observations, collect more data about the environment, and then develop strategies and a plan to support the child's growth and development in learning and behavior.