A problem learner is a learner whose academic performance is significantly below performance potential because of a specific affective, cognitive,structural, or interpersonal difficulty
A problem learner is a learner whose academic performance is significantly below performance potential because of a specific affective, cognitive,structural, or interpersonal difficulty
Thanks you dear Dr. Dickson for this question. In reality, there are fast learners, average and slow learners. The slow learners needs encouragements and proper direction on career path they can do well.
The stimulation of minds comes from the modernization of ideas, the use of modern methods and means of education, the integration of students in the educational process through the seminar and in the search for different sources of data, generations differ from the previous many scientific backgrounds and in nature,
I agree with Prof Egbuna, teacher should take special care and interest for those students. Further teacher should encourage and motivate them through counseling and showing some ppts related to mobilise their innerfire.
Improving Learning Outcomes with the help of Technology
As education continues to develop through the integration of technology in and outside the classroom, the mentality among many teachers has started to shift as well. There used to be a fear that technology would eventually replace the teacher, but the more prevalent view now is that it is a tool which can be applied to enhance conventional teaching rather than replace it. It is with this mindset that a lot of teachers have successfully integrated technology with their classes, without losing the human and emotional factors between teachers and students which are so vital to education. With that in mind, we would like to share a few tips on how to improve learning outcomes in the classroom with the help of technology.
Please look at pending file for answering the first question:
The slow learners are actually the one's that should be given the maximum attention by the teacher. Slow learners could be slow for various reasons; poor foundation of the subject, lower economic & social background, family environment, peer ridicule, change of subject stream or low capability. If the learner is good at some subjects and poor at some, this also needs study. Most poor learners can be helped through understanding their circumstances & supporting them.
A problem learner is one who fails to meet the expectations of the training programme because of a problem with knowledge, skills or attitude. These can be addressed through
• Further assessment that promotes reflection.
• Providing further or enhanced learning opportunities .
• Decreasing their workload to increase time for self-evaluation.
• Appropriate medical/social or psychological support
• Evaluations with more emphasis on peer evaluation and self-evaluation may increase awareness about problem learners or potential learning problems at an earlier stage of education.
Enduring problems of learning can be have its cause in bad constellations of conditions of life of the learner, also in organic damages and disturbing behavior (aggression, anxiety etc.) or it is a problem of the teaching design, in a broader view, a problem of environment, personally or physical. To claim a "problem" of learning with a student has a high amount of subjective rating. A child may be labeled as problem learner but this child could be the victim of an excessive demand or excessive expectation by parents or the teacher, for instance when his mental capacity is not adequately developed, and this child needs more time than other children in his individual process of developing.
Are you going to find a label here? Is a child a problem learner, indicating the situation is immutable, or does he/she have problems with learning, making possibilities for solutions available? You can only work that out by getting to know him/her and his/her work and working from there to establish the particular blockers to that particular bit of learning. I'd try psycho-socio-cognitive/learning theories and maladaptive behaviours and their management if you want to explore the label. Kids are the best lesson lesson for their teachers to learn from.
Dear Dr Dickson Adam. I am not a doctor yet! I'm just old. I've got an M. Ed. and some other grad. quals, and lots of experience with students, teaching and learning. AT present am researching students who drop out and drop back in to ed. in preparation for the PhD. I want to commence in 2019.
A problem learner is a learner whose academic performance is significantly below performance potential because of a specific affective, cognitive, structural, or interpersonal difficulty. Problem learners are difficult for the clinical preceptor to manage ….. (Lisa Vaughn and others 1998)
TIPS for the Problem Learner - Type and specify the ineffective behaviours, Identify the category of difficulty experienced by the learner, Perception versus reality feedback and Strategies for treatment and follow-up (William Huang, 2003)
You have great wealth of experience in teaching as I can vouch it via your excellent delivery. Please, don't allow your advancing age to drag you back from pursuing a PhD. It will add up to your wonderful expertise. You are a doctor to me right? All the best
There are two kinds of problem learners; non-academic and academic. Non-academic problem learners are those who cannot learn due to certain mental/psychological issues, family/social issues, lack of personal interest, continuous medical issues and likewise. They need proper counselling and/or treatment. Even their families must be taken on board for regular counselling sessions. Even their close friends can be involved in counselling sessions.
Academically challenged students are either those who struggle but cannot learn as better as they deserve or those who show least interest in studies. The 2nd kind can be brought to track very easily if they are counselled regularly and their parents are also involved. The 1st kind I would rather name "Slow learners" and not problem learners.
Well, I do not always see lower achievers as problem learners.
To explain, a high achiever that we call "a free rider", a student that dominates classroom discussions, no matter what, is a problem learner. Educators need to pay attention to such behavioural problems for their socio-cultural impact on classroom teaching/learning environment. Maximizing their learning outcomes might mean giving them leadership roles in some classroom activities.
However, if we view problem learners as low achievers, we will certainly find a lot of research on how instructors can assist in maximizing their learning outcomes. To name some,
- While teachers tackle specific themes in teaching, they can use levelled readers (more simplified texts) while assigning readings, reading exercises and reading exams.
- When it comes to group work, instructors should be careful about assigning group roles (leader, writer, speaker, etc.). They should take into consideration not only group members' grades, but also personality types, interests, and intellectual and physical abilities.
- While setting realistic goals is the norm, setting attainable goals for lower achievers and discussing them with those achievers, is what makes a difference. A good example is telling them that if they make a difference of let's say 10 extra points from one exam to the other, the teacher will send a "letter of appreciation" to their parents or will let them decide on a future activity.
After all, setting the classroom code and negotiating the terms with all students as early as Day1 should set the stage for an environment conducive to effective teaching/learning situation.
Your valuable comments are indeed oasis of wisdom! They are also feasible and would improve the state of teaching and learning when employed. I am highly grateful. Best regards
Your valuable comments are indeed oasis of wisdom! They are also feasible and would improve the state of teaching and learning when employed. I am highly grateful. Best regards
To help students improve the results of their learning it is necessary to investigate first what is the cause of problem learners? if they are problems of motivation, study method, cognitive or other causes, teachers can always help if they maintain good communication with their students and are properly prepared.
Students with learning problems must attend individually, to analyze the characteristics of each case to give personalized attention to each student. For this reason the role of the teacher is very important to achieve the expected results in learning.
I sincerely appreciate your interesting viewpoint. I am very thankful. However, the bracket of learners with problems that this study seeks to undertake is a sad reality in many schools. Granted, your excellent strategy of putting in place 'a well articulated procedure to help the learner makes the best out of his/her assets' is very cogent. Please, in your opinion, how will you define 'problem learners'?
You are very right! Customized assistance to each problem learner is very important in addressing the unique learning hindrances of students. I am deeply grateful for your important view and support to the discussion. Best regards
Problem learners are those students that have difficulties in conceptualizing issues the first time they hear them. They will eventually manage to understand after several attempt to do so
Thanks so much for your candid description of problem learners. However, their state is not just an IQ challenge. Other factors contribute to it. That's the target of this research. I am grateful for your support to the discussion. Best regards
Thanks so much for your submission. I understand your position. But, how do we label learners who have serious problems that staggers their learning in the field of education? Whether biological or environmental? Why is identifying them with this title assist in mapping strategies in assisting them? Thanks and best regards
For any natural of learning its starts with the innovative action of our mind & when our learning process becomes active with the scrutiny of problems than the learning problem call for the understanding & may require the help of instructors & with the mutual discussion both will the learners & instructor the problem may get reserved to the satisfaction of learners .
Thank you for your very important point. Indeed, knowing the different learning patterns and styles of learners with learning problems can aid the teacher map out effective strategies in assisting them maximize their learning outcomes.