EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Job Definition:

• Psychologists research into and study the mental processes and behaviour of human beings as individuals or in groups, and apply this knowledge to promote personal, social, educational or occupational adjustment and development.

Job Description:

• Investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Counsel children and families to help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment.
• 2) Develop individualized educational plans in collaboration with teachers and other staff members.
• 3) Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
• 4) Serve as a resource to help families and schools deal with crises, such as separation and loss.
• 5) Attend workshops, seminars, and/or professional meetings in order to remain informed of new developments in school psychology.
• 6) Design classes and programs to meet the needs of special students.
• 7) Refer students and their families to appropriate community agencies for medical, vocational, or social services.
• 8) Initiate and direct efforts to foster tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity in school communities.
• 9) Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioral management systems.
• 10) Provide educational programs on topics such as classroom management, teaching strategies, or parenting skills.
• 11) Conduct research to generate new knowledge that can be used to address learning and behavior issues.
• 12) Compile and interpret students’ test results, along with information from teachers and parents, in order to diagnose conditions, and to help assess eligibility for special services.
• 13) Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
• 14) Assess an individual child’s needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel.
• 15) Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
• 16) Provide consultation to parents, teachers, administrators, and others on topics such as learning styles and behavior modification techniques.
• 17) Promote an understanding of child development and its relationship to learning and behavior.
• 18) Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.

Activities:

• 1) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 2) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 3) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 4) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 5) Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• 6) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• 7) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• 8) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• 9) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 10) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 11) Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• 12) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 13) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 14) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 15) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• 16) Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• 17) Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• 18) Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• 19) Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 20) Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• 21) Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  22) Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• 23) Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• 24) Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• 25) Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• 26) Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• 27) Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• 28) Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Abilities:

• 1) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• 2) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 3) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 4) Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• 5) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 6) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• 7) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 8) Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• 9) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 10) Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• 11) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Knowledge

• 1) Therapy and Counseling — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• 2) Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• 3) Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• 4) Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• 5) English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.