“Importance of knowledge of growth and development for Teachers”

Although all children develop in their own unique fashion, as a direct result of bothhereditary and environmental influences, there is a certain pattern of development that appliesto nearly all children. It is crucial for today’s educators to have a thorough understanding ofthat development. An understanding of basic human developmental stages can be used to gearthe teacher’s lesson plans in order to maximize the success of students in both the academicand the social realms of their lives. This understanding can also be used to minimize problemsin the classroom.

Educational Psychology helps the teacher in many ways as follows:-

To understand the learnerEducational psychology helps the teacher to understand the learning capacity, interest,

motivation, mental status, overt and covert behavior, and also the developmental stagesincluding physical, intellectual, social and emotional developments of the children.

To understand the problems of childrenEducational psychology helps in understanding the learning problems associated with

mental, physical, social and emotional problems of children in the educational process andsituation.

To understand the learning processThe teacher knows how to adopt the principles, laws and theories of learning in his

teaching-learning process. Various appropriate approaches in learning are understood andimplemented in the learning process after learning of Educational psychology.

To understand the developmental characteristicsAn individual passes through different developmental stages such as infancy,

childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Each stage has its own characteristics. Effectiveinstruction according to development stages is helping to mold behavior of pupil.

To select methods of teachingEducational psychology helps the teachers to select the appropriate teaching methods in

a classroom based on the individual learners and learning environment. It also helps him todevelop new techniques and strategies for teaching the heterogeneous group.

To improve quality of teachingEducational psychology aims at helping the teacher in bringing improvement in quality

of teaching.

To create conducive learning environmentClassroom climate includes setting and management which are to be set in a proper way

for the learning of the children. Educational psychology helps a teacher in creating suchlearning environment to the learners in a school.

To make socialization in classroomEducational psychology helps in developing group dynamics, teamwork, and leadership

qualities among the learners.

To maintain disciplineEducational psychology advocates self-discipline through creative and constructive

activities. It helps the teacher to tackle the problems of indiscipline efficiently.

To identify the special needs childrenThe special needs children are the children who need adapted learning instructions,

adapted learning environment or adapted learning process. They may be physically disabled,intellectually disabled or learning disabled. These children are identified and provided specialservices for their learning. Educational psychology helps the teacher to identify such children.

To enable teachers for curriculum developmentCurriculum should be designed based on the needs and wants of the individual to get

accommodated in the present world of development. So, Educational psychology helps theteachers to develop suitable curriculum according to the learners.

To render guidance servicePersonal guidance, educational guidance, vocational guidance and social guidance are

to be given by the teachers for the life betterment of the children. Educational psychology helpsin carrying out such a guidance service to the students.

To know the teacher himselfEducational psychology helps the teacher to understand himself what he is and how he

would be in the educational situation. It also helps him to assess his potentials and teachingabilities. The teacher also understands his emotionality, physical comfortableness, sociability,cognitive abilities etc., after studying Educational psychology.

To evaluate the performanceEducational psychology provides the psychological tests to evaluate the learning

outcomes of the learner.

To conduct the researchEducational psychology helps the teacher to development research attitude to conduct

researches to improve the behavior of individuals in the educational situation.