Integrating Knowledge and Research

I am drawn to the field of education because I'm interested in the psychology of human learning and the impact our educational system has on society as a whole and our interactions with each other. When people are asked to name someone who has been influential in their lives, they often name one of their teachers. Even though teachers are not highly paid, their value is found in the impact they have on their students’ lives. Teachers are responsible for teaching and sharing knowledge in a way that is easy for students to understand and to continually build on that knowledge so that the students will be successful in the future.

Teachers must be knowledgeable about the material they will be teaching, however, that in itself does not make for a good teacher. According to Dean Alan Lesgold of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, “If you’re going to be a teacher, you need to know something about how the mind works, about learning habits, about behavioral psychology, and something about the main ideas in instruction, including certain basic issues like keeping your class orderly” (Hart).

Psychology and sociology have much to do with students and their behavior and interactions. Psychology is the study of human behavior; how a person reacts and is affected by certain situations. Sociology is the study and classification of human societies; how people, in this case students, interact and react with one another and the different situations they are put in together. It is very important to study these two disciplines when interested in education because every student is unique. Having taken part in the Teacher Cadet program at my high school, I have learned that every student has a different background and learns differently. This is what a teacher must face and he/she must find different methods of teaching in order to get his/her point across and become a successful teacher.

Psychology and sociology are the study of human behaviors, individually or in a group. By studying the way people, in this case students, learn, behave, and react to certain situations, teachers can modify their curriculum to maximize their students’ ability to understand the material presented. For example, not all students are auditory learners, or visual learners. Therefore, teachers have to accommodate the needs of his/her students, and may choose to supplement learning with a visual aid or provide an activity for the students that are kinesthetic learners or “hands-on learners.” Additionally, teachers need to provide an environment in the classroom whereby all students, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background, feel comfortable in participating and sharing their views and ideas. Teachers need to be sensitive to the differences among their students and set the example to respect these differences. This ultimately will lead to a society of individuals who will respect one another.

Student achievement and success in the classroom is dependent on a knowledgeable and well prepared teacher. The teacher needs to know the subject matter and what is appropriate to teach for that age level. Often the direction comes from the school system itself based on extensive research into effective strategies for teaching and data on the most successful methods. The Institute of Education Sciences is the branch of the Department of Education that conducts this research. According to its mission statement, it seeks to “expand knowledge and provide information on the condition of education, practices that improve academic achievement, and the effectiveness of Federal and other education programs” (U.S. Department of Education). It strives to provide objective data based on research for educators to aid them in setting their curriculums. For example, through their research, they were able to show that by introducing reading and language skills to preschool children, there was a significant reduction in later reading difficulties. Less than 5% of them went on to experience reading difficulties later.

Teachers have a very important role in society. They are responsible for educating, teaching and instilling a life-long love of learning in their students. They need to be knowledgeable about their subject matter, as well as about human psychology and social interactions in society. Students come to them from various backgrounds and with various emotional and learning needs. They must be prepared to address the needs of all their students and be prepared to guide them in their interactions with one another. A good teacher can have a positive impact on the lives of his/her students. One day I hope that, as a teacher, I can make that big of a difference in someone’s life and perhaps I, too, will someday be remembered as a positive influence on someone’s life.



References

Hart, Peter. “State Competency Tests Measure Only Part Of What Makes A Good Teacher, Education Dean Insists.” University Times. 21 Feb. 2002. 6 Dec. 2005
“Mission.” U.S. Department of Education. 6 Dec. 2005 .