Bishwajit Mazumder

Nursing Instructor
Dhaka Nursing College, Dhaka
Fundamental of educational psychology

Meaning of educational psychology

Educational Psychology and consists of two words Psychology and Education. While
General Psychology is a pure science. Educational Psychology is its application in the field of
education with the aim of socializing man and modifying his behavior.
According to Crow and Crow Educational Psychology describes and explains the
learning experiences of an individual from birth through old age.
According to Charles. E. Skinner, Educational psychology deals with the behavior of
human beings in educational situations.
According to Skinner defines Educational Psychology as that branch of Psychology
which deals with teaching and learning.
According to Stephen Educational Psychology is the systematic study of the
educational growth and development of a child.
Judd Educational Psychology is the Science which explains the changes that take
place in the individuals as they pass through the various stages of development.
Peel Educational Psychology is the science of Education. Educational psychology is
one of the branches of applies psychology concerned with the application of the principles,
techniques and other resource of psychology to the solution of the problems confronting the
teacher attempting to direct the growth of children toward defined objectives.
More specifically, we can say educational psychology is concerned with an understanding of:
a. The child, his development, his need and his potentialities.
b. The learning situation including group dynamics as the affect learning.
c. The learning processes its nature and the ways to make it effective.

Definition educational psychology

According to Oladeles (1987) defined educational psychology: Educational
Psychology is the application of Psychological principles, techniques and other resources of
Psychology to the solution of educational problems confronting the teacher as he attempts to
direct the process of learning and growth of the child towards the objectives set by the
teacher, the school and the society.
According to Stephen "Educational Psychology is the systematic study of the
educational growth and development of a child.
According to Judd Educational Psychology is the Science which explains the
changes that take place in the individuals as they pass through the various stages of
development.

Characteristics of philosophy
An effective philosophy statement has the following characteristics:
A. Accuracy - The philosophy represents claims that are supportable. The philosophy states
an educationally appropriate case for the role of (specific discipline) in the K-12 curriculum
and its importance in the education for all students.
B. Linkages - The program philosophy is consistent with the district's philosophy of
education. - The philosophy provides a sound foundation for program goals and objectives. -
The district's teachers are sincerely committed to each belief outlined in the philosophy.
C. Breadth and Depth - The philosophy is aligned with sound pedagogical practices. - The
philosophy provides a clear and compelling justification for the program.
D. Usefulness - The philosophy is written in language that is clear.

Characteristics/significance of educational psychology

Following are the important characteristics of the nature of educational psychology:
1. It is an applied branch of fundamental psychology.
2. It combines two fields i.e. education and psychology.
3. It is the scientific study of human behavior in educational situation.
4. It is concerned with these factors, principles and techniques which relate to the various
aspects of childs growth and development.
5. It is concerned with learning situation and process by which learning can be more efficient
and effective.
6. Educational Psychology draws heavily from various branches of psychology, biology
sociology and anthropology.
7. Educational Psychology is not as exact as natural sciences since the human behavior
cannot be predicated exactly, because it is dynamic.
8. Educational Psychology is a science of education dealing primarily with how, when and
what of education.
9. It is not a normative a science as it is not concerned with the value of educational and
doesnt concern itself with and What ought to be. It only describes what it is, it is an
applied positive science.
10. While psychology deals with the behavior of all individuals in all walks of life.
Educational psychology limits its dealing with the behavior of the pupil in relation to
educational environment.
11. It does not concern with what and why of education it gives the necessary knowledge and
skill (Technical Guidance) for giving education the pupil in a satisfactory way.

Scopes of educational psychology

Five major areas covered by educational psychology are:
1. The learner: Educational Psychology acquaints us with need of knowing the leaves and
deals with the techniques of knowing him well. Following are the topics studied included in
it: the innate abilities and capabilities of the individual differences and their measurements,
the overt, convert, conscious as well as unconscious behavior of the learner, the
characteristics of his growth and development at each stage beginning from childhood to
adulthood.
2. The learning process: After knowing the learner and deciding what learning experiences
are to be provided, the emerging problem is to help learner in acquiring these learning
experiences with ease and confidence. Hence, it deals with the nature of learning and how it
take place and contains the topics such as laws, principles and theories of learning;
remembering and forgetting, perceiving, concept formation, thinking, reasoning process,
problem solving, transfer of training, ways and means of effective learning etc.
3. The learning situation: It also deals with the environment factors and learning situation
which come midway between the learner and the teacher. Topics like classroom climate and
group dynamics techniques and aids which facilitate learning, evaluation techniques, and
practices, guidance and counseling etc. which help in the smooth functioning of the teaching
learning process.
4. The teaching situation: It suggests the techniques of teaching. It also helps in deciding
what learning situation should be provided by teacher to learner according to his mental and
physical age, his previous knowledge and interest level. By describing the learners
characteristics, what teaching aids are appropriate for the particular subject
5. Evaluation of learning performance: Main objective of education is all round
development of the learner? It includes cognitive, affective and psychomotor aspects of
personality. Educational Psychology suggests various tool and techniques for assessment and
evaluation such as performance test, oral test and written test.
6. The teacher: Educational Psychology emphasizes the need of knowing the self for a
teacher to play his fold properly in the process of education. It throws light on the essential
personality traits, interests, aptitudes, the characteristics of effective teaching etc., so as to
inspire, help teacher handle the stress, conflict and anxiety by giving insight in their own
personality.

Nature of educational psychology

According to W.A. Kelly (1941) listed the nature of Educational Psychology as follows:
1. To give a knowledge of the nature of the child/student.
2. To give understanding of the nature, aims and purposes of education.
3. To give understanding of the scientific methods and procedures which have been used in
arriving at the facts and principles of educational psychology.
4. To present the principles and techniques of learning and teaching.
5. To give training in methods of measuring abilities and achievement in school subjects.
6. To give a knowledge of the growth and development of children.
7. To assist in the better adjustment of children and to help them to prevent maladjustment.
8. To study the educational significance and control of emotions and
9. To give an understanding of the principles and techniques of correct training.

References
1. Oladele, J.O. (1987) Fundamental Foundations of Education. (Rev. Ed.) Lagos: John slad
Publishers.
2. Scopes-of-educational-psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.preservearticles.com/201102244166/what-are-the-scopes-of-educational-
psychology.html
3. Nature-and-scope-of-educational-psychology. Retrieved from
https://johnparankimalil.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/meaning-nature-and-scope-of-
educational-psychology/
4. Educational psychology. Retrieved from http://www.nti-nigeria.org/nti-pgde/PGDE-7.pdf