1. Students learn best when the learning environment is supportive, promotes independence and self-motivation, and reflects students' diverse needs, backgrounds and interests. 2. Students are challenged to develop deep thinking and application when given appropriate support. 3. Effective assessment practices are integrated with teaching and learning, and learning connects strongly to real-world communities and practices.

1. Introduction to Educational Psychology
Module Name: Educational Psychology and Teaching
Students with Special Needs

2. • “Educational psychology is the study of learners, learning and
teaching”(Slavin, 2003).
• “It is the accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and seat-of-the pants
theory that every teacher should possess to intelligently solve the
daily problems of teaching”(Slavin, 2003 ).
WHAT IS EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY?

3. • Studying how people learn from instruction, and with developing
educational materials, programs, and techniques that enhance
learning.
• And conduct scientific research both to advance theory--such as
explaining how people learn, teach, and differ from one
anotherand to advance practice--such as determining how to
improve learning.
• How learning and teaching for people from infancy through old
age, in school and outside of school (best known for studying
children in school settings)
Educational psychology is the branch of
psychology concerned with…..

4. What makes an Effective teacher?

5. Characteristics
of an effective
teacher
Warmth
Humor
Ability to
care
Hard work
Self-
discipline
Leadership
Enthusiasm
Love of
learning
Knowledge
& Skills
What makes an Effective teacher?

6. HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN?
Observation and Imitation: Children learn by observing the behaviors, actions, and
language of those around them, especially parents, caregivers, and peers. They often imitate
what they see, which helps them acquire new skills and behaviors.
Sensory Exploration: Infants and young children learn through their senses by touching,
tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing. These sensory experiences help them understand the
world around them.
Trial and Error: Children often engage in trial-and-error learning, experimenting with
different actions and observing the outcomes. They adjust their behaviors based on the
consequences they experience.
Cognitive Development: Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children
progress through stages of cognitive growth, gradually acquiring more complex mental
processes for understanding and problem-solving.
Social Interaction: Interacting with peers and adults is crucial for children's learning.
Through conversations, discussions, and collaborations, children develop language skills,
expand their knowledge, and learn to navigate social situations.

7. HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN?
Play and Exploration: Play is a significant avenue for learning. Through
imaginative play, games, and exploration, children practice decision-making,
problem-solving, creativity, and social skills.
Schema Building: Children develop mental frameworks called schemas to
organize and interpret information. As they encounter new experiences, they
assimilate them into existing schemas or create new ones.
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): According to Vygotsky's theory, the
ZPD is the gap between a child's current ability and their potential with guidance.
Learning occurs when children work on tasks just beyond their current
competence, with the help of a more knowledgeable person.

8. HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN?
Reinforcement and Rewards: Positive reinforcement, such as praise or
rewards, encourages children to repeat desired behaviors or actions. This
mechanism strengthens learning pathways in the brain.
Critical Thinking: As children grow, they develop critical thinking skills.
They learn to analyze situations, make connections, evaluate information,
and draw conclusions.
Internalization: Through repeated experiences and interactions, children
internalize knowledge and skills, transforming external information into
internal cognitive structures.
Curiosity and Exploration: Children are naturally curious, and their
innate curiosity drives them to explore their environment, ask questions,
and seek answers.

9. HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN?
Language Acquisition: Language plays a fundamental role in learning.
Children acquire language skills by listening, speaking, reading, and
writing, which are essential for communication and accessing knowledge.
Self-Regulation: Over time, children learn to regulate their behavior and
emotions. This self-regulation is crucial for focusing attention, managing
impulses, and adapting to different situations.
Emotional Engagement: Positive emotional experiences enhance
learning. When children feel safe, motivated, and engaged, their cognitive
processes are more receptive to new information.

10. • Imagine you are given a task to do. The task is to follow a complicated recipe to
produce a Lemon Souffle’ within a time limit.
• What might stop you from doing this well?
(group work) (individual work)
Barriers to success
Task 1
• you haven’t got the right ingredients
• you can’t understand the metric system
• you don’t like lemons
• you can’t understand some of the instructions
• your oven has a fault
• You don’t whip the eggs for long enough
• the container is too shallow
• you run out of time

11. Solution
• you haven’t got the right ingredients
• you can’t understand the metric system
• you don’t like lemons
• you can’t understand some of the instructions
• your oven has a fault
• You don’t whip the eggs for long enough
• the container is too shallow
• you run out of time

12. There are usually several factors which interact to prevent
effective learning.
What stops children from learning?
• Lack of Engagement
• External Distractions
• Health Issues
• Learning Disabilities
• Unsupportive Environment
• Lack of Resources
• Inadequate Instruction
• Fear of Failure
• Boredom
• Language Barriers
• Social and Emotional Challenges
• Home Responsibilities
• Attention Difficulties
• Lack of Personalization
• Peer Pressure
• Lack of Confidence
• Excessive Pressure
• Trauma

13. Interactive Factors in the Learning situation
Teacher child task
environment

14. • the child brings – attitude, abilities, prior learning, etc.
• the nature of the task presented
• the way the task is taught ( teacher)
• the learning environment – arrangement of class, peer
group, etc.

15. The Principles of Learning and Teaching
Let’s say that students learn best when:
• The learning environment is supportive and productive (HOW)
• The learning environment promotes independence, interdependence
and self-motivation (HOW)
• Students’ needs, backgrounds, perspectives and interests are reflected
in the learning program (HOW)
• Students are challenged and supported to develop deep levels of
thinking and application (HOW)
• Assessment practices are an integral part of teaching and learning
(HOW)
• Learning connects strongly with communities and practice beyond the
classroom (HOW)