The field of educational psychology is concerned with the scientific study of human learning. Its study ranges from the individual’s learning style to the factors that promote or hinder learning. It aims to enhance the quality of education and to improve the quality of life for children and adults. It focuses on the psychological factors that influence human learning, including the psychological factors that influence children’s motivation and achievement.
Perspectives of educational psychology
In educational psychology, different perspectives focus on different aspects of learning. These perspectives include the behavioral perspective, which focuses on the way people learn and make learning decisions. The behavioral perspective stresses the importance of rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior. It has some drawbacks, however, such as ignoring the role of emotions and intrinsic motivation.
The writings in this course are organized in eight units. Each unit contains readings, supplementary materials, and guiding discussion questions. Students should read the materials with the discussion questions in mind, then log in to Moodle and post their responses. Each unit has two discussion questions that should be addressed. It is important that students focus on the conceptual space.
The four basic goals of psychology are to explain, predict, change, and describe human behavior. Four different perspectives are used in educational psychology. These perspectives include the behavioral perspective, the cognitive perspective, the developmental perspective, and the social cognitive constructivist perspective. The first educational psychologist in India was Narendra Nath Sen Gupta, a Harvard- educated professor.
Duties of an educational psychologist
The duties of an educational psychologist are many and varied, and may include counseling, classifying student needs, and developing strategies for academic success. They also must maintain communication with parents, conduct parent- teacher IEP meetings, and work with other school staff. Other duties include advising and guiding students with academic difficulties and those with special interests.
Educational psychologists apply psychological principles and techniques to support learning and the development of social and emotional skills. They usually work with children and adolescents who experience social and emotional problems. They assess students’ functioning and performance, develop teaching programs, and conduct in-service trainings. Ultimately, their role is to promote children’s learning and develop a positive, nurturing environment.
Duties of an educational psychologist are similar to those of a school psychologist, but differ significantly. Both must follow the law and comply with the professional standards and regulations. They must complete training and certification requirements, and must be familiar with state laws and the duties of other professionals.
Career options for educational psychologists
If you have a passion for helping others and a knack for research, an educational psychology career may be the ideal fit for you. In this field, you will interact with people from all walks of life and work with a variety of populations. For example, you may conduct research for nonprofit organizations or work with troubled children and teenagers. Ultimately, your work will benefit society as educational psychology research improves education across the nation. It will also help children and teens with disabilities overcome their problems and achieve their goals.
Once you have completed your educational psychology PhD, you can begin your career as a psychologist in a school or university. You can also work in a testing company or with the government as an educational psychologist. Some educational psychologists also train future teachers.
