Everyone has a preferred learning style, and educational psychologists are experts in understanding as well as explaining them. The most widely accepted methods are auditory, visual and kinetic; each one appeals to certain groups but not to others. As a school psychologist or as a researcher, a graduate with a master’s degree in educational psychology is called upon to help information providers use the most effective form of delivery.
The advice and recommendations provided by an expert in the field can make a significant difference in a student’s progress in school. The School Family site at http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/826-what-is-your-childs-learning-style contends that using a child’s preferred learning style reduces frustration and increases achievement levels.
Making Practical Application of Academic Training as a School Psychologist
Educational psychologists find ways to help teachers identify students who prefer one or more of these styles:
Auditory
Hearing an explanation is the most effective learning style for students who enjoy talking and explaining things. Having a book read to them is more enjoyable than reading it, and many auditory learners are distracted by noises in the background. Following written instructions is an impediment to learning for students in the auditory group.
A school psychologist makes observations in a classroom to identify students whose attention span tends to diminish when teachers do not spend enough time in oral presentations. Making recommendations that accommodate auditory learners is a contribution that can affect the long term success of a student throughout the years spent in classrooms.
Visual
Students who need to see something in order to understand it learn from pictures and films, charts, diagrams and written instructions. They take note of small details in the way a teacher uses hand motions, moves about a room while talking and changes in facial expressions. Students whose teacher relies on a lecture style are often left behind, and a school psychologist is trained to recognize signs of learning difficulty.
Kinetic
Very young children tend to prefer the kinetic learning style, according to Family Education, shown by moving or touching objects as they learn. Students usually transform into visual learners by the time they reach the third grade and into an auditory learning style in later years. A position as a school psychologist provides a perfect opportunity for graduates to apply academic training as useful guidance for teachers and students.
Using Academic Training as a Researcher
Holders of a master’s degree with a speciality in educational psychology may prefer to continue the academic life style by working in educational research. Advances in most fields occur as the result of research or experimentation, and many master’s graduates join the ranks of educational psychology researchers. Textbook publishers and developers of educational software need the advice of educational researchers to know how to design the most effective forms of information delivery.
With an increasing understanding of educational psychology in schools and business, employers look to master’s graduates for leadership and guidance. The ability to translate academic training into meeting demands of the labor market provides opportunities for graduates to make meaningful contributions and earn a living in a respected field of endeavor.
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