FIELD STUDY 1

Learner Diversity: Developmental

Learning
Episode
Characteristics, Needs and
1
Interests

Spark your Interest

Episode 1 provides me with an opportunity to observe learners of different
ages and grade
levels. It highlights the differences in their characteristics and needs. As a
future teacher, it is
important for me to determine my learners’ characteristics and needs so that I will
be able to plan
and implement learning activities and assessment that are all developmentally
appropriate.

Target your Intended Learning

Outcome
At the end of this episode, I must be able to describe the characteristics,
needs and interests
of learners from different developmental levels.

Revisit
the
Learning Essentials
Here are major principles of development relevant to this episode:

1. Development is relatively orderly. Development follows directional patterns

such as, from the
head to toe (cephalocaudal) and then from the center of the body and then
outwards
(proximodistal).
2. Development takes place gradually.
3. All domains of development and learning — physical, social and emotional and
cognitive are
important and they are closely interrelated.
4. Development proceeds toward greater complexity, self-regulation, symbolic or
representational capabilities.
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Observe, Analyze, Reflect

Activity 1 Observing learner characteristics at different stages

Resource Teacher: ________________________________________ Date: _________________

Course,Year Level & Section: __________________________ Subject Area:
_________________

To realize the Intended Learning Outcomes, I will follow these steps:

1. Observe 3 groups of learners from different levels (preschool, elementary
and high school)
2. Describe each of the learners based on my observations.
3. Validate my observation by interviewing the learners.
4. Compare them in terms of their interests and needs.

OBSERVE
Use the observation guide and matrices provided for you to document your

observations.
Observation Guide for the Learners’ Characteristics
Physical
1. Observe their gross motor skills how they carry themselves, how they move,
walk,
run, etc.
2. Are gross movements clumsy or deliberate/smooth?
3. How about their fine motor skills? Writing, drawing, etc.

Social
1. Describe how they interact with teachers and other adults.
2. Note how they also interact with peers. What do they talk about? What are
their
concerns?

Emotional
1. Describe the emotional disposition or the temperament of the learners.
(happy,
sad, easily cries, moos-shifts)
2. How do they express their wants/needs? Can they wait?
3. How do they handle frustrations?
4. Describe their level of confidence as shown in their behavior.

Cognitive
 1. Describe their ability to use words to communicate their ideas. Note
their
language proficiency.
2. Describe how they figure out things. Do they comprehend easily?
3. Were there opportunities for problem solving? Describe how they
showed
problem solving abilities.

FS 1 FIELD STUDY 1 J. L. Hinampas 2

Learners’ Development Matrix
Record the data you gathered about the learners’ characteristics and needs in this
matrix. This will
allow you to compare the characteristics and needs of learners at different
levels.

Example: (Physical Development)

Domain observed: _________

observed: _________
Preschooler Elementary
Highschool Age
Development Age range of learners Age range of learners range
of learners

observed: _________

Physical
Gross-motor skills The child loves to He loves to play a
She already

The child is learning He loves to draw

dance. She knows
Fine-motor skills how to different shapes. how
to write poems,
move around. lot. knows how to

Self-help skills
write.

The child needs

to be guided.

He can
sometimes help
letters, essays,
stories, etc. She’s
doing all things by
herself.
 himself. Others

Answer:
Development Domain

Preschooler
Age range of learners
observed: _________
Elementary
Age range of
learners observed:
_________
Highschool Age
range of learners
observed: _________
 Physical Gross-motor skills
Fine-motor skills
Self-help skills
Social Interaction
with Teachers
I nteraction with
classmates/ friends

Interests

FS 1 FIELD STUDY 1 J. L. Hinampas 3

Emotional
M oods and
temperament,
expression of feelings Emotional
independence
Cognitive Communication skills
Thinking skills
Problem-solving skills

ANALYZE
Write the most salient developmental characteristics of the learners you
observed. Based on
these characteristics, think of implications for the teacher.

Example:

Implications to the
Teaching Learning
Level Salient Characteristics
Process
Observed

Preschool Presch oolers like to move remember to use

music and
Age range of learners around a lot. movement
activities not just in
observed 3-4 yrs. old Therefore, the teacher should PE but in
all subject areas.
Therefore, the teacher should not expect preschoolers to
stay seated for
a
long period of time.

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Answer:

Implications to the
Teaching Learning
Level Salient Characteristics
Process
Observed
 Preschool Age range of learners observed _________

Elementary Age
range of
learners observed _________

Highschool Age range of learners observed _________

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REFLECT
1. While you were observing the learners, did you recall your own experiences
when you were
their age? What similarities or differences do you have with the learners you
observed?
Answer:

2. Think of a teacher you cannot forget for positive or negative reasons. How
does she/he help
or not help your needs (physical, emotional, social and cognitive)? How did
it affect you?
Answer:
 FS 1 FIELD STUDY 1 J. L. Hinampas 6
Proof of Interview
You can paste here at least 3 pictures/screenshots with captions during the virtual
interview.

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 Proof of Online Class Observation
You can paste here at least 3 pictures/screenshots with captions during the online
observation.

FS 1 FIELD STUDY 1 J. L. Hinampas 8