EDCC 215: Introduction to Educational Psychology Notes

What is Educational Psychology?

  • Educational psychology explores learners and learning contexts.

    • This exploration occurs both within and beyond traditional classrooms.

    • It acknowledges that all people of all ages are continuously learning in various environments.

    • Educational psychology recognizes the impact of age, culture, gender, and physical, emotional, and social aspects on human learning.

    • It emphasizes the importance of considering human development to understand the emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual, and social dimensions of people.

Types of Psychologists in South Africa (According to HPCSA)

  • Current registration categories with the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) include:

    • Educational Psychologist

    • Clinical Psychologist

    • Counselling Psychologist

    • Industrial Psychologist

    • Research Psychologist

  • Two new categories are envisaged:

    • Forensic Psychologist

    • Neuro-Psychologist

Definition of Psychology

  • Psychology is derived from the Greek words "Psyche" and "Logos."

    • "Psyche" means "soul."

    • "Logos" means "science."

    • Therefore, psychology literally means the science (study) of the soul.

  • Psychology is the study of human thoughts (cognition), emotions (affect), and behavior.

  • In a formal school context, Educational Psychology focuses primarily on learners’ (all ages) cognitions, emotions, and behavior as it manifests in different developmental phases.

Application of Educational Psychology in the Classroom

  • Educational psychology provides a scientific basis for teachers to:

    • Understand learners better in their specific developmental phases in terms of their cognitions, emotions, and behavior.

    • Identify barriers (intrinsic and extrinsic) that impede learners' learning and development.

    • Improve the assessment of the individual needs and potential of learners.

    • Focus their teaching and support on the individual needs and potential of learners.

    • Gain an improved understanding of the different social contexts where learners find themselves, and how this impacts them (cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally).

    • Maximize the participation of all learners in the culture and curriculum of all schools.

    • Identify barriers to learning and support learners.

African-Centred Psychology

  • African-centered psychology involves:

    • Accompaniment

    • Collective affect

    • Space-making

    • Looking ahead

  • African-centred psychology emphasizes creating inclusive, socially just spaces.

Positive Psychology

  • Positive psychology focuses on:

    • The origins of positive psychology

    • Current theory on Positive Psychology

    • The goal and relevance of a positive psychological approach

    • A neurological view of positivity

    • Critiques of Positive Psychology

Learned Helplessness

  • Martin Seligman established the positive psychology movement.

  • The theory of learned helplessness suggests that feelings of helplessness are learned through repeated experiences of not being able to control traumatic or distressing events.

  • For example, a learner continuously criticised by a teacher is likely to believe that they are incompetent and may feel helpless.

Relevance of Positive Psychology in Education

  • A positive psychological approach in education aims to foster a sense of competence, confidence, and optimism.

  • Seligman’s theoretical model of happiness (PERMA) helps understand these elements and how to maximize each element to achieve a life full of happiness.

Asset-Based Approach

  • The asset-based approach:

    • Focuses on intrinsic strengths, capacities, and resources.

    • Is based on Positive Psychology.

    • Is a flexible and trans-disciplinary approach.

    • Considers assets in the environment (each system).

    • Emphasizes relationship building (with parents, community members, etc.).

    • Promotes ownership by the child/person with a barrier.

    • Works with immediacy (the here and now).

    • Recognizes that everybody has assets.

    • Mobilizes assets instead of disregarding weaknesses or barriers.

Neuroscience and Education

  • The brain in education includes consideration of:

    • The anatomy and function of the human brain

    • Neuroplasticity

    • The brain and language

    • The brain and mathematics

Brain Facts

  • The typical brain comprises about 2% of the body’s total weight but uses 20% of its total energy and oxygen intake.

  • The brain is 73% water.

  • The brain generates about 20 watts of electricity, enough to power a low-wattage light bulb.

  • Each neuron can transmit 1,000 nerve impulses per second and make as many as tens of thousands of synaptic contacts with other neurons.

  • A 2-year-old’s brain is 80% of adult size.

  • The human brain reaches full maturity at about the age of 25.

Neuroplasticity

  • In cases where the brain suffers an injury, new nerve fibres are generated in the central nervous system to ensure that reorganisation takes place within the brain.

  • Other areas of the brain learn to take over the functions of the damaged parts.

  • This phenomenon is known as plasticity.

Constructivism and Learning

  • Constructivism is a view that sees knowledge not as a given but as actively and continuously constructed and reconstructed by individuals, groups, and societies.

Constructivist Principles in Practice

  • Process as well as content

  • Active learning

  • Connecting the familiar to the unfamiliar

  • Scaffolding

  • Group work and co-operative learning

  • Language and interaction