Educational psychology essays examples

What does it mean when we say the best predictor of a child’s learning is what they already know?

The learning process of a child is through a process of actively constructing knowledge (Boyle, Boyle and Scanlon, 98). This implies that prior knowledge provides a foundation for learning new things. Based on the prior knowledge the child can be able to assimilate new information, thus can be able to change their understanding about a concept.

How do we learn?

Learning entails the understating of different concepts that affects humans. According to Reynolds and Mason (19), a person’s perception and beliefs are key to learning. Based on prior knowledge, individuals can be able to internalize principles concerning the world and in the process understand them.
This process may involve the following Gagne’s arrangement sequence. Signal reception, stimulus-response behaviors, concept learning, principle learning, and problem solving respectively (Reynolds and Mason 19).
An individual has to first assimilate information, which will involve the integration of a prior values and knowledge with current perceptions. Consequently, the individual has to try an accommodate information by trying to alter such information in way that explain why certain perceptions cannot be understood. Most of these learning processes require facilitation from teachers and other individuals.

Learning skills that continue to be used include practicing and repetition, observations, reading, discussing and experiencing stuff in life.

How are teaching and learning connected?
Poor teaching methods can result in poor learning of students. Further, teachers require equipment and material that will enhance their teaching and make it easier for student to comprehend material they are taught. Teaching is used as part of the learning process. The teacher tries to assist the student to connect new principles with the prior knowledge in order to understand concepts of the world.

Regions of the brain and their functions

Frontal Lobe
Responsible for motor planning and motor output (Baars and Cage 145). These include muscle movements and other body part movements problem solving, attention creative thought, judgment, intellect and initiative. It has processes for dealing with language, thought and executive control of high order processes.

Parietal Lobe

Has a multisensory role. The parietal lode has multiple maps of body space. For instance, it is responsible for connecting the link between the eyes and the location of the hands.

Temporal Lobe

This region is responsible for sound processing has auditory language and speech comprehension systems.
Occipital Lobe
This region is responsible for visual abilities and reading.
How do the regions of the brain apply to school performance and learning?
Children that have poor brain development will have problems in understanding information taught and may even take up more time.
Consequently, the children with poor brain function may require different approaches in teaching.
What are the relationships of brain functions that are specific to literacy and learning?
Different regions are required during different stages of the learning process. In the initial acquisition stage of learning new information will require resources from the frontal lobe (right hemisphere of the brain).

During the proficiency and maintenance stages of learning, the left-hemispherical processes are required.

In generalization and adaptations stages, the child then uses the right hemispherical processes.
What does it mean to teach to the brain?
The brain grows and develops the more as the child is taught. To reach a level of optimal performance and expertise, teaching and instructions are required. The brain can collect vast amount of information but with no comprehension, this information becomes useless.
Teaching allows information gather to be understood by the child on the various ways of application.

Works Cited

Baars, Bernard J, and Nicole M. Gage. Cognition, Brain, and Consciousness: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2010. Print
Boyle, Joseph R, and David Scanlon. Methods and Strategies for Teaching Students with Mild Disabilities: A Case-Based Approach. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.
Reynolds, Jake, Lynne Caley, and Robin Mason. How Do People Learn? London: Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, 2002. Print.