Based on what I have read in Chapter 1, Educational Psychology is important for the following reasons:

 It helps the educators understand and cater to the needs of their students. Each learner is different
from one another (e.g. levels of intelligence, learning disabilities, cultural diversity, and more) which
makes teaching a challenging profession. Through Educational Psychology, the educators are trained
to identify the nature of classroom learning, to know and apply the principles of effective teaching, to
come up with their teaching strategies, to measure learning outputs, and to adapt the changes in the
classroom setting (e.g. use of technology). In addition, it provided tests, experiments, and researches
that are useful in improving the education system and proving that a teacher’s active participation is
necessary to the holistic development of the student. An example of this is the removal of the No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in the United States because it was proven to be a failure. It focused
solely on the result of the student’s academic achievement and not the process behind it. The school
will be closed, and the teachers would be fired if they didn’t perform well which is unfair. In the
Philippines, one example would be the change from the usage of English to mother tongue (e.g.
Ilocano) as the medium of instruction for grade school students or the implementation of Mother
Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE). Certain studies showed that the use of the first
language is easier for children to express themselves and to understand what they are reading.

 It helps both the educator and student in establishing a strong relationship that is built on trust and
integrity. Their interaction from the child’s primary education affects his or her development.
Educational psychology can assist educators in assessing the student who is struggling and provide
ways to intervene. With positive teacher relationship comes the positive student outcomes. They
progress not only academically but emotionally and mentally. Moreover, even parents with
background about Educational Psychology can guide and observe their children. It enables them to
consider what punishment or reinforcement is good for them and at the same time, prioritizing their
mental health. Parents are educators too.