A Comprehensive Guide to Education and Educational Psychology
What is Education?
Education is a set of knowledge, orders, and methods that aid individuals in developing and improving intellectual, moral, and fundamental physical faculties. It involves acquiring, transmitting, and increasing acculturation, a fundamental factor in acquiring knowledge and training individuals for social solidarity.
How to Become What We Are
According to Savater, humans are born, but that is not enough; we have a target. This is where the purpose of education comes in.
Education Rates
- Formal Education: This type of education is institutionalized.
- Informal Education: Learning a profession, for example, happens throughout life.
- Non-Formal Education: This type of education is not officially recognized.
Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy refers to the positive judgments individuals make about their abilities. It has been the subject of several empirical studies in education.
The Complex Nature of Education
The nature of education is complex for several reasons:
- Multi-dimensional: It involves many different areas.
- Simultaneity: Many things happen at the same time.
- Immediacy: Things happen very fast.
- Uncertainty: It is difficult to predict the effect professional conduct will have.
- Inclusion of Social and Ethical Aspects
- Variety of Students: Classrooms are filled with heterogeneous students with different levels and backgrounds.
Effective Teaching: Expert vs. Inexperienced Teachers
The complexity and differences between teaching and student learning make effective teaching a challenging endeavor. There is no single way to master teaching. Effective teachers possess a range of strategies and apply them flexibly.
Santrok identifies three important ingredients of expert teachers:
- Professional Knowledge: This includes content knowledge (knowing subjects, strategies, materials, curricular programs, etc.) and specific knowledge (acquisition of routines, improvisation capacity, knowledge of typical and atypical students, etc.).
- Personal Characteristics: Effective teachers have a positive attitude, see teaching as a challenge, are motivated to find solutions, and have a sense of personal efficacy.
- Professional Growth: Expert teachers never stop learning and growing professionally. They seek help from colleagues, exchange ideas, and maintain good relationships with parents.
Instruction: Art or Technique?
Some believe that being a good teacher requires good knowledge and that teaching cannot be learned. Others believe that teaching is an art of being thoughtful and finding creative solutions. Both positions have their arguments.
The Work of Teachers
An expert teacher should be an instructor, organizer, guide, counselor, and role model.
Concerns of Teachers
Teachers often fear not being able to discipline students. The biggest fear is the loss of authority. Effective teachers prioritize communication and persuasion over imposition.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Being a Teacher
Drawbacks: Teachers often dislike activities not directly related to teaching, such as administrative tasks. They also face a lack of recognition. Compared to other professions, teaching has lower economic and social recognition. It can be a lonely job that generates stress and tension. Sources of tension include student misbehavior, lack of parental support, and feeling overwhelmed.
Advantages: Teaching provides satisfaction, especially when observing student progress and experiencing work autonomy.
Evolution of Educational Psychology
Three important events mark the evolution of educational psychology:
Phase 1: Optimism
In the early 20th century, educational psychologists believed that psychology could improve educational practices. They saw themselves as guides, conducting laboratory research on learning and development, while educators applied the results in their teaching methods. This relationship was a one-way street from psychology to education.
Phase 2: Pessimism
This stage was marked by pessimism and a divorce between psychology and education. Educational psychologists lost interest in educational policy and focused on research far removed from school settings. The relationship reached a dead end.
Phase 3: Renewed Optimism
The 1960s saw renewed optimism with the cognitive revolution. Research focused on individual student learning in real environments, emphasizing learning strategies. The relationship became a two-way street, with contributions flowing between psychology and education.
Definition of Educational Psychology
Educational psychology is a distinct discipline with its theories, research methods, problems, and techniques. It is a science that studies everyday problems related to education and learning. It investigates educational principles, models, theories, and conducts research. It also examines changes in students’ behavior, mood, and thought processes.
Cognitive and Behavioral Theory
Behaviorist theory focuses on the relationship between educational actions and their results. Cognitive theory defines educational actions and responses by describing cognitive processes.
Methods of Investigation
- Observation: Focusing attention on a specific aspect.
- Interview/Questionnaire: Gathering information about experiences, beliefs, and feelings through standardized questions.
- Tests
- Case Studies
- Ethnography
- Correlational Studies
- Experimental Method: Identifying the causes of behavior by manipulating one or more factors that influence it. The cause is the manipulated factor, and the effect is the factor that changes. The steps involved are:
- Observation of the problem
- Establishment of the situation, conceptualization of the hypothesis, and determination of variables
- Selection of appropriate techniques
- Verification of the hypothesis and drawing conclusions