Studying the Process of How People Learn Most Effectively
Educational psychology is the study ofhow people learnand retain information.
They may specialize in children with specific learning challenges and develop teaching methods that help students succeed in school.
Educational psychology incorporates severalother psychology disciplines, includingdevelopmental psychology,behavioral psychology, andcognitive psychology.
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The Behavioral Perspective
This perspective suggests that all behaviors are learned through conditioning, such aspositive reinforcement.
Psychologists who take this perspective rely firmly on the principles ofoperant conditioningto explain how learning happens.
This perspective focuses on how children acquire new skills and knowledge as they grow and develop.
For developmental psychologists, there is a balance betweennature and nurturein the learning process.
Jean Piaget’sstages of cognitive developmentare one example of an important developmental theory that examines how children grow intellectually.
This can help educators create instructional methods and materials aimed at specific age groups.
Cognitive psychology aims to understand how people think, learn, remember, and process information.
This means that new knowledge can only be added to and understood in terms of existing knowledge.
Educational psychologists often work in schools to help students and teachers improve the learning experience.
Other professionals in this field conduct research to investigate the learning process and evaluate programs designed to foster learning.
History of Educational Psychology
Educational psychology is a relatively young subfield that has experienced tremendous growth.
Many regard philosopher Johann Herbart as the father of educational psychology.
The primary focus of educational psychology is the study of how people learn.
Educational psychology is important because it has the potential to help both students and teachers.
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