SLOW LEARNER

CONCEPT, CHARACTERISTICS & IDENTIFICATION.

PRESENTED BY :
Naorem Robert Singh
MA(Education) 2nd Sem
MEANING

➤ The term slow learners is relatively a new term being used for the type of learners traditionally
known as backward students in schools.

➤ The term slow learner should be referred to the children of relatively low intelligence,having an IQ
of approximately 75 to 90.

➤ Slow learners are student who learn slowly than their peers, yet do not have a disability requiring
special education.
DEFINITION

➤ The term ‘backward’ or ‘slow learner’ is reserved for those children who are unable to cope with the work
normally expected of their age group. -BURT(1937)

➤ Backwardness, in general, is applied to cases where their educational attainment falls below the level of
their natural abilities. -BARTON HALL(1947)

➤ Backward pupil is one who, compared with other pupils of same chronological age, shows marked
educational deficiency.
-SCHONELL (1948)

➤ A backward child is one who in mild-school career is unable to do the work of the class next below that
which is normal for his age. -BURT (1950)
CHARACTERISTICS

➤ Functions at ability but significantly below grade level.

➤ Is prone to immature interpersonal relationships.

➤ Poor reasoning ability, understanding and comprehension.

➤ Lives in the present and does not have long range goals.

➤ Has few internal strategies (i.e. organizational skills, difficulty transferring, and generalizing information.)

➤ Scores consistently low on achievement tests.

➤ Works well with “hands-on” material (i.e. labs, manipulative, activities.)

➤ Presence of anxiety and fear of failure.

➤ Works on all tasks slowly.

➤ Masters skills slowly; some skills may not be mastered at all.

➤ They have difficulty with long-term goals.

➤ They have difficulty with time management.

➤ They require extra practice and more time to work on tasks.

➤ They often develop academic motivation deficits.

➤ They have poor memories.Their attention span is short and they cannot concentrate on one topic for long.

➤ They lose track of time and cannot transfer what they have learned from one task to another well.
 IDENTIFICATION

OBSERVATION METHOD
➤ Observation of child’s behaviour by the teacher as well as experts.
➤ Observation may be done by just watching the child behaviour directly and moving along with the
child.
➤ This technique is conductive for ascertaining the recreational, occupation and extra-curricular
interest of children.
CASE STUDY METHOD
➤ The history of the child, his family, his early life and home environment are revealed.
➤ Psychologists try to study the learning difficulties, adjustment problem and behavioural problem
of the child.
 MEDICAL EXAMINATION

➤ Verified by a qualified medical expert or medical practitioner.

➤ Under strict physical and medical examination, the anomalies, disabilities and handicaped can be
highlighted.

SCHOLASTIC TEST

➤ Evaluation or deficiencies in school in school achievement.

➤ Areas like arithmetic, reading, spelling, composition, writing, language and comprehension.
 PERSONALITY TEST
➤ Emotional characteristics of children as well as temperamental traits.

➤ There are certain personality traits which have direct relationship with specific backwardness.
Some of them are persistence, sensitiveness, concentration, emotional stability etc.

INTELLIGENCE TEST

➤ Both verbal intelligence test and non verbal tests can be used in this purpose.

➤ Psychologist use more than one standardised test to ascertain a particular anomaly.
 PSYCHOMETRIC & PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST

➤ For better appraisal, analysis and evaluation of specific skills of backward children, these
tests are primarily used.

➤ By these,psychologists try to discover the exact nature of errors made by the

backward children.
REFERENCES

➤ Mangal S.K (2011), Educating Exceptional Children, New Delhi, Published by Asoke K.
Ghosh, PHI Learning Private Limited.

➤ Panda K C (2005), Education of Exceptional Children, New Delhi, Published by VIKAS

Publishing House Private Limited.