Learner Characteristics

1. Engagement in Learning Process:

Effective learners understand the reason to learn and this impacts their intrinsic
motivation.
Ineffective learners have a tendency to be negative about learning activities and
require much more encouragement from teachers. Students need a strong knowledge base
before moving on to the next level. Teachers should test students prerequisite knowledge
before starting on new content and before assigning tasks.
Teachers should encourage active participation in the classroom.
Teachers should endeavor to find topics that students find interesting. When teachers connect
lessons to what students find interesting, they are more likely to see increased levels of
motivation and learning.
Teachers can connect lessons to real world phenomenon can increase students interest in
lessons.
If a student misses assignments or lessons, teachers should make sure that there is a system in
place to ensure that the student receives the information. This will ensure that the student does
not fall further behind.

2. Self-Regulation of Learning:
Effective learners actively monitor and regulate their learning, use various
learning strategies, initiate the learning process and show enthusiasm
Ineffective learners dont possess many metacognitive skills, use few
learning strategies, have difficulty staying on task, and make frequent errors
Teachers can help students self-regulate their learning with positive
reinforcement
Teachers can create a happy and positive environment by demonstrating
enthusiasm for learning. Kids have a tendency to learn more from a person
that they like.
Teachers can encourage the use of metacognitive skills by modeling them
for students
Students are more likely to learn from someone that they think cares about
them. Teachers should be attentive and interested in their students lives.
Teachers should be attentive to the needs of students and make resources
available if needed.
Teachers can look for specific cues that may indicate that students are not receiving enough of
a specific resource (i.e. enough sleep, food, etc.)

3. Attribution & Motivation:

Students who are intrinsically motivated, goal-oriented, have an internal locus of control, and
accept the status quo of tasks will be effective learners in the classroom
Ineffective learners base their drive on extrinsic motivation are moment-oriented, have an
external locus of control, and question the value and need for certain tasks.
 Teachers can emphasize the importance of education and learning to increase their intrinsic
motivation to succeed.
Teachers can use goal-planning to demonstrate to students the importance of setting and
achieving goals. This gives students something specific to work towards and also gives them
the opportunity to feel the pride of success and a job well done.
Teachers can help ineffective learners increase their motivation by setting clear goals in which
students are able to clearly see and attain feelings of success.

4. Pro-Social Behaviors:
Effective learners exhibit appropriate behavior and social skills,
follow the rules, and respond to low-level consequences and
punishment
Ineffective learners exhibit inappropriate behavior and social
skills, break rules, do not follow social expectations, and are
unresponsive to low-level consequences and punishment
To decrease inappropriate behaviors in the classroom, the teacher
can discuss acceptable behaviors at the beginning of the school
year. To make things more official, the teacher can create a
classroom contract.
The teacher should model acceptable behaviors for students to
follow. The teacher should be a positive role model in handling
negative situations and approaching different problems.
Teachers should specifically point out how students have violated
the rules or messed up. Students need logical reasons for why they
are being punished. Punishments should logically correspond with
the crimes committed.
Teachers should provide students with the opportunity to fix their mistakes.

Sources:
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http://garfieldminusjon.thecomicseries.com/images/comics/
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http://teacherswithapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/What-children-need-most-1.jpg