Focus Questions:

1. What is the nature of the learner? What are the implications of these to
the teaching-learning process?

- The learner is an embodied spirit. He/she is not just a body, neither just a
spirit. What happens to the body happens also to the spirit. Likewise, what
happens to the spirit affects the body. A learner will eventually bring such
implications in the teaching learning process. A true learner will always
look forward to seek answers to the questions. A true learner will be
always curious to learn about new things so it will add more fun to the
teaching learning process. If you are a learner, you will definitely want to
dive deep into the reasoning process rather than just accepting whatever
comes to your plate. It will make the teaching learning process more
experimental and interesting. As, teacher will look forward to come out of
their conventional teaching and learning method. This will eventually help
the children to explore and experiment more.

2. What are the powers/faculties with which every learner is equipped?

- The learner is equipped with faculties or powers-cognitive and affective.

His/her cognitive powers include the external five senses, the internal
senses of imagination and memory in the spiritual/mental power of the
intellect. The acts of his/her intellect are conception, judgment and
reasoning.

3. What should teachers do and not do to help develop the learner’s

powers or faculties?

- The teacher serves as the prime mover of the educational wheel, while the
learners are the key participants in the learning process. The favorable
environment provides essential features and ingredients that would be of
great help in guiding the learning process.
4. What does Howard Gardner say about the learner’s intelligence?

- Gardner defines intelligence as a “biopsychological potential to process

information that can be activated in a cultural setting to solve problems or
create products that are of value in a culture”. He writes that we may all
have these intelligences, but our profile of these intelligence may differ
individually based on genetics or experience.

5. What are learning styles? How do these affect teaching-learning?

- Learning styles can encourage students to reflect on their preferred ways

of learning, giving them more ownership and control over their own
learning. Learning styles are a reminder that all students are different. And
lastly, they can make teaching more enjoyable, and expand teachers'
professional skills. There is a correlation between learning and teaching
styles. Using a learning-styles based teaching is useful to differentiate
instruction, the identification of students' learning approaches can help
teachers to implement different strategies for the benefit of different
learners.
An Exercise:
Use this exercise to explore your attitudes and beliefs about learning. Put a
check mark beside the statements that are TRUE of you:
_______1. There will always be something new to learn for as long as I live.
_______2. I’m not afraid to commit mistakes as long as I learn from them.
_______3. I take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
_______4. I take charge of my own learning.
_______5. I am very willing and eager to learn.
_______6. I am grateful to teachers who demand quality and excellence for effective
learning.
_______7. I have made it habit to set my personal learning goals.
_______8. I find time to check my progress against my personal learning goals.
_______9. I give my best in everything I am asked to do in order to learn.

How many did you score out of nine (9) highest possible scores? Review the
statements which you didn’t check. How can these unchecked items affect your
learning?
- My score out of nine (9) is nine.

For each statement that you didn’t check, think of two steps that you could take
right now to build a positive learning attitude in this area.