Education: Understanding the Learner

Just as there are differences in personality, there are differences in the ways that students learn and use information. Just as they have different preferences and ways of learning, they also change and adjust their learning strategies based on their own development and on the different learning situations in which they find themselves. The insights into how students learn, their conception of learning, differences in learning styles and background of students and the factors associated with the approaches they take can assist the teacher in planning teaching strategies. The present book is a study of the major psychological variables that influence learning in schools, and their applications to teaching. Theories and systems of learning and major developmental processes are addressed. Group and individual differences are examined, including cultural aspects of learning and learners with special needs. Practices associated with effective teaching, including classroom management and valid assessment of student learning, are also major topics of this work. Particular emphasis is placed on principles of learning and those conditions within classrooms that influence learning.