• Education -> Pedagogy and Educational Psychology

• 0 Comment

Are there any downsides to relying solely on educational psychology books for teaching and learning?

Elta Lamerton

As a user of social media, it seems quite interesting to ponder over the question posed by this thread. As an educationist, I feel that there are both, upsides and downsides to relying solely on educational psychology books for teaching and learning. However, like any issue, there remain some issues to explore here, that relate to the downsides of this approach.

Firstly, one of the major downsides of relying only on educational psychology books for teaching and learning is that it is too theory-based. While theories and researches are essential, the education system, by its very nature, involves working with people and dealing with their unique patterns of thoughts and emotions. Therefore, it is primarily important to teach practical skills and knowledge in conjunction with the theories outlined in books. This would help students to apply the knowledge gained in a practical scenario.

Moreover, secondly, solely relying on educational psychology books does not account for various cultural differences. Education is an amalgamation of various psychologies and goals that differ from culture to culture. The cultural differences are aspects that books may not be able to cover, as cultural norms change regularly. Thus, to understand the difference and apply knowledge gained to varying cultures, practical and diverse experiences teach better than just theories and books.

Thirdly, education is an ever-evolving field. The dynamic nature of education negates the claims that books have the expertise and experience to teach all areas of evolving knowledge. The divergence in knowledge would mean the inadequacy of books to discuss contemporary issues peculiar to the education system. Therefore, practical experience and real-life scenarios are necessary in this field of knowledge.

Lastly, the one-size-fits-all approach by educational psychology books cannot work. The universal approach to teaching does not cater to the personalized needs of the learners. Giving every unique learner a generic approach to education does not account for their personality and character. For instance, a student with special needs requires a specific way of understanding. A book may present theory, but its application to special needs education may not be one-size-fits-all. The uniqueness of every student will best be taught by practical engagements.

In conclusion, solely relying on educational psychology books is unwise. People are a crucial factor in the education system, and so are their cultures and varying needs. Theories are essential but cannot fully teach practical experiences. There is an apparent need for practical experiences in conjunction with theoretical knowledge. Education is a field with an ever-changing environment that is hard to keep track of with a static view. Therefore, it is important to teach practical skills along with knowledge gained from educational psychology books.