Your Child Can Overcome Learning Challenges with the Help of an Educational Psychologist
The ability to learn is fundamental to human survival, as well as our ability to thrive within the environment and community in which we find ourselves. Throughout life, there are many lessons to be learnt, and just as many ways to learn them. In the developed world, school systems are set up to teach young people the fundamentals necessary to excel at life. However, these systems are limited and do not always match all the individual needs displayed by all students. If you have a child who is struggling at school or is displaying learning difficulties, an educational psychologist may be able to help.
What is an educational psychologist?
An educational psychologist is a professional who specialises in the study of psychology related to the ways in which people learn. They strive to understand exactly how different people learn, as well as improve the ways they learn, and the field includes the study of teaching methods and instructional methods.
Often, the cause of learning challenges is not related to the ability of the student, but rather the way that the content is presented, and how the student is motivated to absorb the information. If it is possible to understand how different individuals acquire knowledge and capabilities in a classroom setting, it is possible to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate students who do not benefit from a specific approach a teacher or institution is taking. This will allow the student in question to potentially excel at work they found challenging before.
This is exactly what an educational psychologist strives to achieve. They aim to identify what causes obstacles in the learning process, and find different ways that eliminate these obstacles and allow students to perform in line with their full potential.
It is important to note that learning challenges are often not an indication of the potential of a student. In fact, gifted students often struggle due to the fact that they take in information in a different way or at a different pace compared to the methods applied to the class as a whole. A simple change in the approach of teaching could unlock potential that was not necessarily evident before. It also helps to improve the confidence of the student, which further assists in helping them excel.
If you think you or your child can benefit from the services of an educational psychologist, contact the office of Dr Tienie Maritz today. As a professional with over two decades of experience, he is the ideal person to assist with matters related to learning.
Sources:
https://www.tieniemaritz.co.za/
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-educational-psychology-2795157
