Meaning, nature and functions of educational psychology, Relevance of educational psychology to teachers, learners, teaching and learning

1. Suresh Babu G
Suresh Babu G
Assistant Professor in General Education
CTE CPAS Paippad

2. Suresh Babu G
Education Psychology - Meaning
• Education Psychology is the
applied branch of psychology
which deals with the application
of psychological principles and
techniques to the development
of educational practices and
solution of educational
problems.
• Educational psychology is a
study of the experiences and
behavior in relation to
educational environment.

3. Suresh Babu G
Education Psychology - Definition
• According to skinner, educational
psychology as the branch of
psychology which deals with
teaching and learning.
• According to Crow and Crow,
education psychology describes
and explains the learning
experiences of an individual from
birth through old age.
• Peel considers educational
psychology as the science of
education.

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Nature of Educational Psychology
• It’s nature is scientific as it adopts the method of
systematic inquiry and scientific approach.
• It is functional in its character
• It is an applied positive science
• It is not a normative science
• It is not a perfect science
• It is a growing science.

5. Suresh Babu G
Functions of Educational Psychology
• To provide an understanding of the nature, aims
and purposes of education.
• To inculcate in the prospective teacher the
realization that the most essential purpose of
teaching is that the student learn.
• To provide a thorough knowledge of the nature
of the child.
• To provide an understanding of the principles
governing learning, together with knowledge of
the techniques.

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• To provide a significant
knowledge of developmental
process with particular
emphasis upon the promotion.
• To present the principles and
conclusions regarding the
prevention of all types of
maladjustments together.
• To present the theories
underlying the measurement
and evaluation of mental
abilities, aptitudes,
achievements , interest.

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Relevance of Educational Psychology to Teacher,
Learners, Teaching and Learning
The subject matter of educational psychology
revolves round the five key factors of the
educational process. They are:
1. The Leaner : Topic like the following are
included in this section
(a) The innate abilities and capacities of the leaner
such as intelligence.
(b) Psychology of individual difference, nature and
development of personality, assessment of
personality etc.

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(c) The overt, covert, conscious as well as
unconscious behavior of the leaner, his adjustment
and mental health.
(d) The process of growth and development of the
learner in relation to infancy, childhood and
adolescence.
2. The Teacher : (a) It emphasizes the need of
knowing the self for a teacher to play his role
properly in the process of education.
(b) It discusses his conflicts, motivation, anxiety,
adjustment, level of aspiration etc.
(c) It throws lights on the essential personality traits,
interests, aptitudes, the characteristics of effective
teaching etc. which will help him to be an effective
teacher.

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3. The learning experience : (a) It suggests the
techniques of acquiring the learning
experiences.
(b) It helps in deciding what learning experiences
are desirable at what stage of the growth and
development of the learner so that these
experences can be acquired with a greater ease
and satisfaction.
(c) It has the subject matter which deals with the
knowledge and principles of psychology which
facilitates the selection of the desirable learning
experences for the learner.

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4. The Learning Process : It deals with nature of
learning and how it takes place, contains the topic
such as laws, principles and theories of learning,
remembering and forgetting, thinking and
reasoning process, problem solving, transfer of
training, ways and means of effective learning etc.
5. The learning environment : Topics likes
classroom climate and group dynamics,
techniques and aids which facilitates learning,
evaluation techniques and practices, guidance and
counseling etc. which help in the smooth
functioning of the teaching-learning process come
around this pivot.

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Contributions of Education Psychology
• To understand the leaner
• To cater the individual difference
• To understand the developmental
characteristics.
• To understand learning process
• To understand effective methods of
teaching
• To understand problems of children
• To understand group dynamics and social
behavior in classroom

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• To maintain constructive and creative discipline
• To render guidance service
• To give guidance for the education of
exceptional children
• To enable teachers for curriculum development
• To prepare time table
• To help in measuring learning outcomes
• To select appropriate co-curricular activities
• To knowing about himself

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Limitation of Education Psychology
• New and complex science
• Problem of individual
difference
• Complexity of psychological
phenomena
• Limitation due to the gap
between theory and practice
• Limitation arising from the
nature of teaching

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