EPISODE 2: Learner Diversity: Developmental Characteristics, Needs and Interests

OBSERVE, ANALYZE, REFLECT

Activity 2.1 Observing Learner Characteristics at different stages

Resource Teacher: Larry Tulic Teacher’s Signature School: Kalilangan NHS

Grade/Year Level: Grade 10 Subject Area Date: 16-03-2023

Learner’s 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. The items under each domain are by no means exhaustive.
These are just sample indicators. You may add other aspects which you may have observed.

Development Domain Preschooler Elementary High School

Indicate age range of Indicate age range of Indicate age range of
children observed: ____ children observed: ____ children observed: 11-15
Physical
Gross-motor skills  Graceful and
composed
Fine-motor skills  Can write legibly
both in manuscript
Self-help skills and cursive
 Main self-help skills
Others are fully
developed; eating,
dressing-up,
grooming and
household skills
 More independent
than preschoolers
and elementary
Social  Well-disciplined;
Interaction with Teachers participates well in
class; respects their
Interaction with teachers
Classmates/friends  Most of them
belong in group of
Interests cliques; talks about
the opposite sex
Others  Latest fashion and
gadgetry
 Concerned with
appearance
Emotional  Hides their true
Moods and temperament, feelings scared of
expression of feelings rejection expresses
feelings or
Emotional problems by talking
Independence to friends or peers
 Depend more on
Others friends than
parents when it
comes to
 emotional things
 A bit confused if
she is already a girl
or a woman;
adolescent period
Cognitive  Can communicate
Communication Skills well in English,
Level of
Thinking skills communicative
competence is
Problem-Solving average
 Can perform
Others deductive and
inductive reasoning
and analysis
 Performs well in
problem solving
but still doubts
his/her answers
 Understands the
less better with
integration of real
life situations

ANALYZE

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

Example:

Level Salient Characteristics Observed Implications to the Teaching-

Learning Process
Preschool  Preschoolers like to move  Therefore, the teacher
Age Range of Learners observed 3-4 around a lot should remember to use
music and movement
activities not just in PE but in
all subject areas.
 Therefore, teachers should
not expect preschoolers to
stay seated for a long period
of time.

Level Salient Characteristics Observed Implications to the Teaching-

Learning Process
Preschool
Age Range of Learners observed 3-4
Elementary
 Age Range of Learners Observed ___
High School
Age Range of Leaners Observed 11-
15
High School students like to be in the
latest trends and can understand
lessons better when they are
integrated with real life situations.
 Even if the student are in the
higher section, the teacher
must not show less
enthusiasm in teaching
 Teachers must communicate
the significance of the lesson
to the students’ everyday
life.
 Teachers should be
integrating their teaching
with technology to keep the
students interested
 Must acknowledge the
student’s efforts treat
everyone in class with
fairness and no favoritism

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?
- Yes, because like them, we are also noisy during the class but we are participating very well. Unlike them, we
give our full attention to what the teacher is speaking about.
2. Think of a teacher you cannot forget for positive or negative reasons. How did she/he help or not help you with
your needs (physical, emotional, social, and cognitive)? How did it affect you?
- I think he is Mr. Randy Llegado, he helps us to be neat in the classroom, the center point of learning; counsel
us when we are in emotional strains and telling us to out from our comfort zone.
- As I have mentioned above. I only had few friends. And this what bothers my Grade 4 teacher, because I am
not the friendly type. She often tells me to start making friends and being nice with others. I am not mean,
but I was really unapproachable
3. Share your other insights here.
- Our experiences during high school really affect us on what to possess as a school teacher. All of us on our
section has different institution graduated during high school life, and these affect ourselves if what kind of
teaching ability should we retain to our students someday.

LINK Theory to Practice

SHOW Your Learning Artifacts
Which is your favorite theory of development. How can this guide you as a future teacher? Clip some readings about this
theory and paste them here.

- Development influences learning. As we go through different stages of life, our human skills and abilities
strengthens and increases. These different stages will give us developmental patterns that will enable our body
and brain perform a certain task. How we learn and respond to tasks varies in every stages. And this is what Jean
Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory emphasizes.
- Piaget’s theory simply tell us that we move through different stages of mental development. This is why our
learning ability, comprehension and acquiring of knowledge is different when we are young and when we reach
adulthood. Starting from birth to adult, our intelligence changes.
- Using this is a tool to understand better students will help me realize that differentiated and modified responses
in terms of instruction, assessing and developing learning materials is important. Children are naturally diverse
especially in mental abilities. Through cognitive development theory, I will be able to identify their individual
needs and respond to these needs appropriately.

EVALUATE Performance Task