INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION

PSYCHOLOGY

KTTC DIPLOMA IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION

 By the end of this topic the learner should be able to;

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 INTRODUCTION TO
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
• What is Psychology? The term is derived from two
Greek words:
• Psyche--------Soul (mind)
• Logos---------Study of
• The Greek viewed Psychology as the study of souls.
This view has evolved over the years.

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 INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONT.

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental process. Three key terms in this
definition are: Science, behavior and mental processes.

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 INTRODUCTION TO
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
What is Psychology? The term is derived from two Greek words:
Psyche--------Soul (mind)
Logos---------Study of
The Greek viewed Psychology as the study of souls. This view has evolved over
the years.
INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY CONT.

• Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental process. Three

key terms in this definition are: Science, behavior and mental processes.
INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY CONT.

Science:
Psychology uses systematic methods to observe, describe,
predict and explain behaviour. Scientific methods are not
casual and do not rely on common sense or day today
reasoning.
Behaviour:
This is everything we do that can be directly observed.
Crying, laughing, hugging, dancing, fighting, staring.
Mental processes:

These are thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us

experience privately, and cannot be observed directly.
These are normally inferred from behaviour.
Psychology may also be defined as the scientific study of the
mind through the observation of behaviour
GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY

• Describe: gathering information on an issue so as to describe more

accurately and completely

• Predict: Try to predict future behaviour e.g performance at work

and school
GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY cont.

• Understand: seeks to explain why certain things happen (tentative theories)

• Influence: Tries to influence behaviour in beneficial ways; eg raising children,

dealing with depression, selecting a career etc
 BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is a broad discipline. Branches are as many as there are aspects of

human behaviour. Two broad areas:
• Experimental Psychology: focuses on basic research, usually laboratory
research.

• Applied psychology: focuses on human areas where psychological research

information is directed.
BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY Cont.

Common branches are:

• Clinical psychology
• Counselling psychology
• Industrial or organizational
• Sports psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Learning psychology
• Educational psychology: The scientific study of human
behaviour and mental processes within learning set up.

It seeks to understand the behaviour of the learner, the

learning process and the learning environment, and tries
to appreciate how these interact to influence learning.
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY TO TEACHERS

• Equips teachers with psychological theories and principles

• Understand the nature and behaviour of the students
• Appreciate individual differences and cater for the same in
different set ups
• Better understanding of learner’s needs and handle situations
appropriately
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY TO TEACHERS Cont.

• Better understanding of the learning process and how to make learning

more effective
• Teachers are able to appreciate learning processes e.g memory, forgetting

• Choice of appropriate teaching methods

• Able to set realistic and achievable goals
 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Developmental Psychology
• A branch of basic psychology that attempts to explore the life long process or changes.

• The scientific study of growth, development and behaviour changes of beings from
conception through to death. These changes are physical, emotional, mental, social etc.

• It is synonymous with the term ‘Child psychology’ which is the study of human growth and
development.
DEFINITION OF TERMS Cont.
• The study of human growth and development that concerns
itself with the description and explanation of changes in
human behaviour that are as a result of maturation and
experience.

• It studies physical, cognitive and psychosocial changes across

the life-span. It looks at how changes occur qualitatively and
quantitatively over time.
• Research in child development attempts to answer 3 questions:
• How does it take place? Stages, sequence, do the skills become more
progressively different

• Nature of changes: categogrize differences e.g between 2 and 4 years

• What makes these changes occur? What forces are responsible for
child development
• Behaviour: Observable aspects or activities of an individual or
organism.

• Maturation: Describes the state of readiness; whereby the body

parts and cells are ready for function.
Growth: It is quantitative changes that occur from conception to
death. There are different types of growth:

• Hyperplastic growth – increase in the number of cells

• Hypertrophic growth – increase or decrease in the size of cells

• Non-cellular growth – material increase or decrease in the

body e.g Urine, excretion etc
Development:
• Refers to qualitative changes that take place in a human
being from conception to death as a result of maturation and
environment

• Emergence of capabilities over time. The changes could be

social, emotional, physical and moral. Physically for instance,
could be in terms of motor development e.g a child sitting ->
crawling ->walking ->running.
NB:
• Growth and development are interrelated. Growth facilitates
development and vice versa. For instance, a child whose
muscles are growing properly will easily be able to walk at
maturation.

• It is not possible to draw a line where growth stops and

development starts.
STAGES OF HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Growth and development occurs in stages.

We experience different things at different times, capable of
different things at certain times, etc. Each developmental stage
will pose different challenges. Below is an outline of the major
growth and developmental stages with approximate age:
Prenatal stage
-from CONCEPTION to BIRTH
- lasts about 9 months, equivalent 280 days or 42 weeks
- The 3 primary stages of prenatal development are the
zygotic period, the embryonic period, and the fetal period.
Infancy atage
• from birth to two years
• individual able to interact with environment
• there is acquisition of basic skills

Early childhood
• from 2 – 4 years
• involves refinement of skills acquired earlier
• advanced skills are acquired
Middle childhood

• end of 4 years to age 6

• slower growth and development changes
• preparation for school and learning

• growth and development continues, with some body

organs close to adult size/maturity; e.g the brain
Late childhood
• from conception
• end of 6 years to about 11 years (1-2 years before adolescence)
• characterized by very slow growth and development (latent years)

Adolescence
• Transition from childhood to adulthood
• Entry age determined by gender, health, nutrition and genetic make up of
the individual
• Characterized by rapid physical changes
Early adulthood
• end of adolescence to about 35 years
• growth is minimal
• individual is in stable relationships and has a number of social
responsibilities
• later years of this stage mark family commitments

Middle adulthood
• Ranges from 36 – 45 years
• Settled and with family commitments, established career
• Slight changes in body growth; some aspects such as the
bones, muscles etc may decline in strength
Late adulthood
• 46-65 years
• reduced family commitments
• increased social responsibility
• significant body changes
• some preparing for retirement, others retired

Old age
• 66 years and up
• reduced activity
• most are retired
• significant health changes
• incapacitation
• DEATH
IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY TO THE TEACHER

• Provides a better understanding of adult behaviour. To

understand an adult, you need to understand the child first

• Indicates what behaviour, and development is usual at

particular times. It helps us to predict behaviour
• It gives an understanding of the basic psychological processes
e.g learning, motivation, socialization, maturation etc,

• It makes us know how children learn and this may make the
teacher to vary methods of teaching.

• The teacher is able to appreciate the needs and challenges

facing individuals as they grow up,
• helps teachers to react appropriately to any behavioural
changes they may encounter among students

• Assists teachers in molding the child

• Teachers are able to understand basic principles of growth and

development.
• Teachers are able to become aware of the potential and
abilities of different children/students

• Provides a background information about childen’s behaviour

and psychological growth under a variety of environmental
conditions