Educational Psychology: Applying Psychology in the Classroom

Summary

This video introduces the field of educational psychology, highlighting its role in enhancing teacher-student relationships and promoting effective learning. It explains how educational psychologists apply psychological theories in various educational settings, ranging from schools to community programs and even within families. Key perspectives discussed include the cognitive perspective, which focuses on how people process information, and the behavioral perspective, which examines how behavior is influenced by rewards and punishments. The video also touches on developmental psychology's role in understanding how people change across their lifespan, offering insights into how abstract concepts are taught to students.

Takeaways

• 😀 Psychology is a vast field that extends beyond mental illness and therapy, encompassing various areas such as education and everyday life.
• 😀 Educational psychology applies psychological theories and concepts to educational settings, aiming to improve teacher-student relationships and learning outcomes.
• 😀 Educational psychology can be found in various settings, including schools, after-school programs, community groups, companies, and even within families.
• 😀 The goal of educational psychology is to create positive teacher-student relationships to maximize student potential and enhance learning.
• 😀 Two main theoretical perspectives in educational psychology are the cognitive perspective, which focuses on how people acquire and process information, and the behavioral perspective, which examines how behavior is modified through consequences.
• 😀 The cognitive perspective in educational psychology explores topics such as memory and information processing.
• 😀 The behavioral perspective in educational psychology investigates how rewards and punishments affect student behavior and motivation in the classroom.
• 😀 Educational psychology draws heavily from developmental psychology, which studies how people change over their lifetimes, from infancy to adulthood.
• 😀 Educational psychologists use developmental psychology to help teachers decide how to present information at various stages of a student's cognitive development.
• 😀 The lessons in educational psychology provide insights into theories that help educators understand and improve student learning and behavior.

Q & A

What is the main focus of psychology as a field?

Psychology is a large field that goes beyond mental illness, counseling, and therapy. It includes various areas of study related to human behavior, cognition, and emotion, with applications in diverse contexts like education, the workplace, and family life.

What is educational psychology?

Educational psychology is a branch of psychology that studies and applies psychological theories and concepts in educational settings. It aims to improve the teacher-student relationship and help students learn to their full potential.

Where do educational psychologists typically work?

Educational psychologists can work in schools (from preschool to college), after-school programs, community groups, companies, or even within families, wherever learning takes place.

What is the primary goal of educational psychology?

The primary goal of educational psychology is to create positive teacher-student relationships that maximize students' learning potential.

What are the two theoretical perspectives in educational psychology?

The two main theoretical perspectives in educational psychology are the cognitive perspective, which focuses on how people acquire, perceive, and communicate information, and the behavioral perspective, which examines how behavior is modified by consequences like rewards and punishments.

What does the cognitive perspective in educational psychology focus on?

The cognitive perspective studies how individuals acquire, perceive, remember, and communicate information. It includes topics such as memory and the ways in which people process information.

How does the behavioral perspective relate to educational psychology?

The behavioral perspective in educational psychology focuses on how behaviors can be modified through consequences, such as rewards and punishments, which can help motivate students in both positive and negative ways.

What is the role of developmental psychology in educational psychology?

Developmental psychology plays a key role in educational psychology by providing insights into how people change and develop over the course of their lives. This knowledge helps educational psychologists understand how students' abilities and learning needs evolve from infancy through adulthood.

How does developmental psychology help teachers in educational psychology?

Developmental psychology helps teachers by guiding them in understanding how students' cognitive and emotional development affects their learning. It aids in making decisions about the appropriate level of abstract thinking and other developmental factors when teaching.

What is one practical application of educational psychology?

One practical application of educational psychology is helping teachers create environments where students are motivated to learn, using techniques derived from both cognitive and behavioral perspectives, such as structuring lessons to improve memory and using rewards to reinforce positive behavior.