INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

Vinayaka Missions International Univesity College (VMIUC)

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What is Psychology?

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how
they are affected by an organisms physical, state, mental state,
and external environment.

Scientific study requires several things:

1.Theoretical framework
2.Testable Hypotheses
3.Empirical evidence
4.Behavior and mental processes include overt, observable
instances but also include subtle kinds of instances, like brain
activity.

 Behavior and mental processes include overt, observable

instances but also include subtle kinds of instances, like brain
activity.
Physical state relates primarily to the organisms biology most especially the state of the brain and central nervous
system.

 Mental state does not have to be conscious - can study

mental states in many creatures without their conscious
awareness - and can be studied in terms of brain activity.
All organisms function in an environment that is constantly
presenting them with problems and challenges that must be
solved.

GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY
i) Measure and describe behaviour objectively
e.g. Extraversion
ii) Understand (explain) and predict behaviour using the
scientific method.
Demonstration with Dr. Mongrains psychic abilities
Employ critical thinking:
E.g. look for alternative explanations (p. 36-37)
Rudimentary statistics demonstrated with astrology
iii) Modify behaviour to improve quality of life and increase wellbeing.
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WHAT IS EDUCATIONAL PSYCH?

"Educational psychology is distinct from other branches of
psychology because it has the understanding and
improvement of education as its primary goal" (Wittrock,
1992, p. 138).
Study what people think and do as they teach and learn a
particular curriculum in a particular environment where
education and training are intended to take place"
(Berliner,1992, p. 145).
An academic definition would perhaps say that educational
psychology is the study of learners, learning, and teaching.
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MORE UNDERSTANDINGS
The accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and seat-of-the-pants
theory that teacher should possess to intelligently solve the
daily problems of teaching.
Cannot tell teachers what to do, but it can give them the
principles to use in making a good decision and a language to
discuss their experiences and thinking.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER AND

GOOD TEACHING?
Lets take a minute to remember the names of the best
teachers about you ever had when you were in the preschool, primary school and secondary school? What was it
about these teachers that make you remember them over the
years? What effects did they have on you?

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER AND

GOOD TEACHING?
Warmth, humor, and the ability to care about people
Planning, hard work, and self-discipline
Leadership, enthusiasm, a contagious love of learning, and
speaking ability.

But these qualities are not enough

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GOOD TEACHER AND GOOD TEACHING

A good teacher are committed to their students.
Dealing with a wide range of student ability and challenges
understand their subjects and their students thinking
Using new technologies and techniques appropriately to
accomplish important goals, not just entertain the students.
taking good care of the emotional needs of their students.
In short, good teachers carefully plan and teach the basic
procedures for living and learning in their classes. They can
efficiently correct and collect homework, regroup students, give
directions, distribute materials, and deal with disruptions etc.
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Seven areas of professional knowledge an expert teachers

know (Lee Shulman,1987):
The academic subjects they teach.
General teaching strategies that apply in all subjects .
The curriculum materials and programs appropriate for their
subject and grade level.
Subject-specific knowledge for teaching.
Knowing the characteristics and cultural backgrounds of
learners.
The setting in which students.
The goals and purposes of teaching.
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AS A GOOD TEACHER, HE/SHE NEEDS

Knowing the subjects matters, and Teaching Skill.
Mastering the Teaching Skills
Effective instruction is not a simple matter of one person with
more knowledge transmitting that knowledge to another.
Effective instruction demands the use of many strategies.

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