LEARNER-CENTERED PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES

It is not about what teachers cover; it is about what students discover.

Psychology plays a very important role in understanding the teaching and learning process.Many
innovations in the learning process have been made possible becauseof the contributions of
psychology.

Psychology is a branch of science that studies human behavior, and helps educators and teachers to
understand the nature of diversity of learners.Teachers are now more confident and competent to teach
because of a deep understanding of their learners. They can facilitate learning needs. History has been
witnessed as to how concepts,information, and studies in psychology have helped immensely in
understanding the nature of the human being. They are bases for innovations and reforms in teaching.
Teaching strategies are made more appropriate for every learner. Part of human nature is
learning,which has been made interesting because of the application of knowledge obtained from
psychology. Studies are continuously undertaken to enhance knowledge about the teaching and
learning process.

COGNITIVE AND METACOGNITIVE FACTORS

Cognitive factors in learning involve various cognitive components like attention, perception, executive
function, and reasoning. It also involves various strategies that one uses to learn something. On the
other hand, metacognitive factors involve the monitoring and evaluation of cognitive factors.

1. NATURE OF LEARNING PROCESS

The learning of complex subject matter is most effective when it is intentional process of constructing
meaning from information and experience.

*Learning through experience is the most effective way of teaching. An intentional learning environment
is one that Foster activity and feedback and creates a culture that promotes metacognition, that is, one
in which the learner becomes aware of his or her learning process and can use tools to enhance this
learning process (Bereiter & Scardamalia, 1989)

2. GOALS OF THE LEARNING PROCESS

The successful learner, over time and with support and instructional guidance, can create meaningful,
coherent representations of knowledge.

*Learners need to be goal-directed. Teachers have to guide learners in terms of determining their
personal goals. They need to set their goals, not dictated by others, to ensure their willingness to
achieve them. Meaningful learning takes place when what is presented to learners is very much related
to their needs and interests.

3.CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE

The successful learner can link new information with existing knowledge in meaningful ways.

*In planning a new lesson to be presented, teachers would usually find it more effective when they
connect the learners existing knowledge to new information. The integration of prior experiences to a
new concept to be learned is a way of making connections between what is new and what is already
known. That new knowledge is created from old knowledge is the very heart of constructivism.

4. STRATEGIC THINKING

The successful learner can create and use a repertoire of thinking and reasoning strategies to achieve
complex learning goals.

*Strategic thinking is a person's ability to use knowledge in different ways to solve problems, address
concerns and issues,decrease difficulties in certain situations, and make sound decisions and judgments
in varied conditions.
5. THINKING ABOUT THINKING

Higher-order strategies for selecting and monitoring mental operations facilitate creative and critical
thinking.

*One of the most challenging roles of the teachers is to develop among their learners' higher order
thinking skills (HOTS). It means that their learners can do evaluation, synthesis, analysis, and
interpretation of varied concepts, information, and knowledge. As previously mentioned, learners
develop their thinking skills when they are provided with opportunities and learning experiences to
mentioned, learners develop their thinking skills when they are provided with opportunities and
learning experiences to and learning experiences to process varied events and situations, specifically if
given real problems.

6. CONTEXT OF LEARNING

Learning is influenced by environmental factors, including culture, technology, and instructional

practices.

*Learning does not only take place inside the classroom. Much of what learners learn in the classroom
with their teachers can only have meaning once they see them concretely in their everyday life.