This document discusses learner characteristics and effective teaching strategies. It defines learner characteristics as aspects of learners that may influence how and what they learn, including personal, academic, social, cognitive factors. Learner characteristics are important for instructional design. The document also discusses intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, learning styles, and effective teaching strategies like visualization, cooperative learning, inquiry-based instruction, technology integration, and behavior management.

1. LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS: AGE,
APTITUDE, & MOTIVATION;LEARNING
STYLES AND STRATEGIES
J. DAVIS
Jose Rizal University

2. Learner Characteristics
 The concept of learner characteristics is used in the sciences of
learning and cognition to designate a target group of learners
and define those aspects of their personal, academic, social, or
cognitive self that may influence how and what they learn.
 Learner characteristics are important for instructional designers
as they allow them to design and create tailored instructions for a
target group.

3. Learner characteristics can be:
• Personal
• Academic
• Social/emotional
• Cognitive in nature

4. Personal Characteristics
Relate to demographic information such as age, gender,
maturation, language, social economic status, cultural
background, and specific needs of a learner group such as
particular skills and disabilities for and/or impairments to
learning.

5. Academic Characteristics
Are more education and/or learning related such as
learning goals (of an individual or a group), prior
knowledge, educational type, and educational level.

6. Social/emotional Characteristics
Relate to the group or to the individual with respect to the
group. Examples of social/emotional characteristics are group
structure, place of the individual within a group, sociability, self-
image (also feelings of self-efficacy and agency), mood, et
cetera.

7. Cognitive Characteristics
Relate to such things as attention span, memory, mental
procedures, and intellectual skills which determine how the
learner perceives, remembers, thinks, solves problems,
organizes and represents information in her/his brain.

8. Motivating Students
• Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivators include fascination with the subject, a sense of its relevance to life and the world, a
sense of accomplishment in mastering it, and a sense of calling to it.
Advantages:
Intrinsic motivation can be long-lasting and self-sustaining. Efforts to build this kind of motivation are also
typically efforts at promoting student learning. Such efforts often focus on the subject rather than rewards
or punishments
Disadvantages:
On the other hand, efforts at fostering intrinsic motivation can be slow to affect behavior and can require
special and lengthy preparation.

9. • Extrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic motivators include parental expectations, expectations of other trusted
role models, earning potential of a course of study, and grades (which keep
scholarships coming).
Advantages:
Extrinsic motivators more readily produce behavior changes and typically involve
relatively little effort or preparation.
Disadvantages:
On the other hand, extrinsic motivators can often distract students from learning
the subject at hand.

10. Effects of Motivation on Learning
Styles
 Deep learners respond well to the challenge of mastering a difficult
and complex subject.
 Strategic learners are motivated primarily by rewards.
 Surface learners are often motivated by a desire to avoid failure.

11. Strategies for Motivating Students
• Become a role model for student interest
• Use examples freely
• Set realistic performance goals
• Place appropriate emphasis on testing and
grading
• Be free with praise and constructive in
criticism

12. Learning Styles
o Visual (spatial):You prefer using
pictures, images, and spatial
understanding.
o Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer
using sound and music.
o Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using
words, both in speech and writing.
o Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using
your body, hands and sense of touch.
o Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn
in groups or with other people.
o Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to
work alone and use self-study.
o Logical (mathematical): You prefer using
logic, reasoning and systems.

13. Effective Teaching Strategies
• Visualization
• Cooperative learning
• Inquiry-based instruction
• Technology in the classroom
• Behavior management

14. 1. Visualization
 Bring dull academic concepts to life with visual and practical
learning experiences, helping your students to understand how
their schooling applies in the real-world.
2. Cooperative learning
 Encourage students of mixed abilities to work together by
promoting small group or whole class activities.

15. 3. Inquiry-based instruction
 Pose thought-provoking questions which inspire your students
to think for themselves and become more independent learners.
4. Technology in the classroom
 Incorporating technology into your teaching is a great way to
actively engage your students, especially as digital media
surrounds young people in the 21st century.

16. 5. Behavior management
 Implementing an effective behavior management strategy is
crucial to gain your students respect and ensure students have
an equal chance of reaching their full potential.