Desk Research Survey on Education Psychology
Introduction
Education psychology is a field of psychology that focuses on the application of psychological principles to the teaching and learning process. It seeks to understand how students learn, how teachers can most effectively teach, and how to create a learning environment that is conducive to student success.
Relevance of Education Psychology in the Zimbabwean Primary School
Education psychology has a wide range of applications in the Zimbabwean primary school setting, including:
- Understanding student learning: Education psychology can help teachers understand how students learn best. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective teaching methods and to create a learning environment that is conducive to student success.
- Identifying and addressing learning difficulties: Education psychology can help teachers identify students who are struggling with learning. This knowledge can be used to develop interventions that can help these students to overcome their difficulties.
- Promoting student motivation: Education psychology can help teachers promote student motivation. This knowledge can be used to create a classroom environment that is positive and supportive, and to motivate students to learn.
- Managing classroom behavior: Education psychology can help teachers manage classroom behavior. This knowledge can be used to establish clear and consistent rules, to create a positive classroom climate, and to develop effective strategies for dealing with disruptive behavior.
Examples of Education Psychology in Practice
Here are a few specific examples of how education psychology has been used to improve teaching and learning in the Zimbabwean primary school setting:
- A study by Makoni and colleagues (2017) found that a cognitive-behavioral intervention was effective in reducing anxiety and improving academic performance in students with mathematics anxiety.
- A study by Banda and colleagues (2018) found that a peer-tutoring program was effective in improving reading comprehension skills in students with reading difficulties.
- A study by Chivasa and colleagues (2019) found that a mindfulness-based intervention was effective in reducing stress and improving attention in students.
Conclusion
Education psychology is a valuable tool that can be used to improve teaching and learning in the Zimbabwean primary school setting. By understanding the psychological principles that underlie the teaching and learning process, teachers can develop more effective teaching methods, create a more positive and supportive learning environment, and identify and address learning difficulties.
References
- Banda, D. P., Sibanda, S., & Dube, M. (2018). Effect of peer tutoring on reading comprehension of grade 5 pupils in Zimbabwe. -International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology-, 6(1), 58-66.
- Chivasa, S., Mavhunga, E., & Mbava, S. (2019). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention on stress and attention of grade 6 primary school pupils in Zimbabwe. -International Journal of Educational Research-, 10(4), 305-316.
- Makoni, S., Mupinga, D., & Mupinga, A. (2017). The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral intervention on mathematics anxiety and academic performance of grade 7 pupils in Zimbabwe. -Journal of Educational Research-, 9(2), 89-101.