Why Educational Psychology is called Practical Science
Educational Psychology.
Introduction
Practical science is any science that directly benefits human beings by increasing their control over nature or by giving them greater understanding of themselves and their situation. Practical sciences are further distinguished from pure or theoretical sciences, which attempt to explain the world without being concerned with its application to human needs and desires. When educational psychology was first developed in the late 19th century, it wasn’t considered to be a practical science; today, the name educational psychology itself reflects this change in perception.
An Introduction to Educational Psychology
Educational psychology emerged in response to practical questions faced by educators. The goal of educational psychology was to determine what caused students to have difficulty mastering a particular subject or skill, and how teachers could structure instruction to address these difficulties. Thus, while some psychological disciplines focused on more theoretical questions (e.g., personality, psychopathology), educational psychology was always deeply grounded in real-world problems faced by educators. One of education's most celebrated scholars once described it as the science of efficient schooling. Some suggest that because its findings are applicable in many different settings and contexts, it's more accurately viewed as a practical science than a pure science.
The Importance of Understanding Behavior
In order to truly understand how and why people behave in certain ways, it’s essential to analyze their behavior in a way that has been scientifically proven as accurate. While common sense may seem like a great approach, it’s important to remember that common sense can often be wrong. Behaviorists call their method of analysis the scientific method, which is a widely accepted method for learning about various aspects of life. This has led many teachers and school leaders to accept educational psychology as an important science, even calling it practical science because of its practical applications.
Education and Individual Differences
Why educators should take an interest in I/O psychology: The field of educational psychology has been slow to integrate principles from I/O psychology. There are a number of reasons for that—one being that it’s a discipline founded on its own research, much of which is still cited. However, there’s a growing body of evidence showing how useful I/O can be for educators and students alike. In order to make sure all students have access to high-quality education, educators need to incorporate relevant research on student success and engagement. By understanding individuals’ needs and their strengths, education will be more effective at meeting individual needs—which could help turn around stagnating test scores while simultaneously making school more rewarding and engaging for students.
A Discussion on Learning Styles
Learning styles are a controversial but widely-used concept in educational psychology. On one hand, there’s some evidence that different students might learn better when exposed to the material in different ways. But on the other hand, learning styles models have been found to be too subjective for general use—not because they aren’t valid, but because they can be applied in so many different ways. The lesson? To avoid being misled by learning styles or any educational psychology theory, take what you hear with a grain of salt and read further research before making any major decisions. Remember: educational psychology isn’t an exact science!
What Makes Educational Psychology Useful for Teachers?
Successful educators work tirelessly to increase student success and engagement. In order to achieve these goals, it’s important for teachers to understand what makes students tick. From new teachers just getting started in their careers to veteran instructors looking for ways to improve their skills, educational psychology can help all educators get more out of their lessons by understanding how students learn. The basic principles that make educational psychology so useful for teachers are outlined below: 1) Motivation 2) Reinforcement 3) Cognition 4) Problem Solving 5) Creativity 6) Developmental Differences 7) Teaching Styles 8) Learning Styles 9) Dealing with Special Needs 10. Emotional Intelligence
Conclusion
By reviewing numerous learning theories, it can be concluded that educational psychology is still in its infancy. While there are basic principles of psychology that can be applied to education, most of these principles are for classroom management and pedagogy rather than to directly study how students learn. It will take a long time before we have sufficient data and enough research to form solid theories on how children learn best and what methods teachers should employ to help their students learn effectively.