LEARNER

DIVERSITY:
DEVELOPMENTAL,
CHARACTERISTICS,
NEEDS, AND
INTERESTS
LEARNING EPISODE 2
EPISODE 2:
Provides with an opportunity to
observe learners of different ages and
levels. It highlights the differences in
their characteristics and needs. As a
future teacher it is important to
determine the learners’ characteristics
and needs so that you will be able to
implement learning activities and
assessment that are all
developmentally appropriate.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
LEARNERS

KINDERGARTEN ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL

Learner characteristics enables students to be more efficient and
effective in their learning. It also encourages educators to be more precise
in their teachings. Learner characteristics are so diverse that they range
from personal to academic. The former refers to traits like gender,
language, age, and cultural background. Meanwhile, academic
characteristics consist of logic, objectivity, intellect, insight, and practical
applications. These combined qualities contribute significantly to the
CHARACTERISTIC
S
OF
KINDERGARTEN
LEARNERS
PHYSICAL CHARACTERTICS OF
KINDERGARTEN LEARNERS

● Children are extremely active.

● Children need frequent rest period.
● Children’s large muscle more developed
than those that control fingers and hands.
● Eye-hand coordination is still developing.
● Children’s bodies are flexible and resilient.
SOCIAL CHARACTERTICS OF
KINDERGARTEN LEARNERS

● Most children have one or two best friends, but

these friendships change rapidly.
● Children exhibit many different play behaviors.
● Play patterns may vary as a function of social class
and gender
● Children show preferences for gender of play peers
and for pair vs. group play.
EMOTIONAL CHARACTERTICS OF
KINDERGARTEN LEARNERS
● Children tend to express their emotions
freely and openly, with anger bursts being
frequent.
● Jealousy among classmates is fairly
common as these children tend to have
much affection for their teacher and
actively seek approval.
COGNITIVE CHARACTERTICS OF
KINDERGARTEN LEARNERS
● Children begin to develop a theory of mind.
● Children are becoming quite skillful with
language.
● Children may overgeneralize rules in using
language.
● Competence is encouraged by interaction,
interest, opportunities, and signs of
affection.
CHARACTERISTIC
S
OF ELEMENTARY
LEARNERS
Physical Characteristics Elementary
Learners

● Awkwardness may occur

but coordination is
improving.
● There is an inherent need
to move.
Social Characteristics Elementary
Learners

● Seek attention and approval

● Form social groups but exclude

some peers
Emotional Characteristics Elementary
Learners
● Less Egocentric
● More Independent
● Become Discouraged Easy
● Feel the need to be successful
● More aggression in order to find
identity
● Enjoy repetition
● Behavior affected by puberty
● Competitive-upset when losing
Intellectual Characteristics Elementary
Learners
● Attention span is increasing
● Curious and asks many questions
● Language and reasoning skills
increase
● Pre-occupied with thoughts of
sexual development
● Understanding increasingly difficult
concepts
CHARACTERISTI
CS
OF HIGH
SCHOOL
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS

• Knows how to critic literary and able to write

poem, essays, etc.

• More independently in doing such things and

some things has been done by themselves.
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS
• Organizes self-concept based on personal
traits
• New dimensions of self-esteem
• Begins constructing a self-identity
• Reciprocity in relationships
• Strengthen relationship between moral
reasoning and behavior
• Parental conflict gradually subsides
• Cliques and crowds decline in importance
EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS

• Moods and temperament, expression of

feelings.
• Emotional independence.
• A sense of belonging to a group, while some
intend activity by themselves.
OGNITIVE CHARACTERISTICS
OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS
• Begin to show formal operation
reasoning on tasks with which the
student has had extensive experience
• Improves decision-making strategies
• elf-conscious and self-focused
• Knowledge expanded and organized
• Better at problem solving
 NEEDS OF LEARNERS

KINDERGARTEN ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL

Each learner is unique, and brings to the learning situation his or

her own different learning style, knowledge set, pool of past
experiences, and motivation. In learner-centered instruction, it is
important for instructors to consider the level of knowledge and
skill development attained by the learners prior to instruction
(Dick, Carey, & Carey,2004).
 Level NEEDS
PHYSICAL SOCIAL EMOTIONAL COGNITIVE

The kids need All kids need

Kindergar to move where ever consistent, attuned
The kids needs to
mingle/communicate
The kids needs to
watch nursery
he goes. attention from their
ten primary caregivers.
with other learners. rhymes.

Children needs
Elementar Learners need to
supportive
Children need to feel interactions are the
y write and draw varied
shapes.
understood and foundation for building
Children need short
stories to read.
understand. strong, healthy
relationships with
children.
They need increasing
High They need lots of The student need to
opportunities to
They need to
engaged in
experience positive
School opportunities to
exercise their growing
be understand by the
teacher for whatever
social relationships
meaningful
experiences wherein
that allow them to
bodies and explore action they do even if the learners are able
explore emerging
their emerging large it is wrong they need to construct ideas,
ideas, views, values,
and small muscle to be corrected. knowledge, and
and feelings with
capacities. understanding prior to
peers and adult
Observe classes from different grade levels. 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.
 Learner’s Development Matrix
Developmental Preschooler Elementary High School
Domain Age: ___ Age: ___ Age: ___
___
Physical
Appearance/ Grooming

Social
Interactions with Teachers

Interaction with
Classmates/Friends

Emotional
Moods and temperament, expression of
feelings

Cognitive
Communication Skills

Thinking Skills
B. Imagine when you are in your pre-school, elementary, and high school level.
Describe your developmental domain following the given table above.

- Physical
- Social
- Emotional
- Cognitive
Thank you