Personal differences in learning.

Question 1

State different learner characteristics.

Answer 1

Personal, academic, social/emotional and cognitive.

Question 2

Describe personal characteristics and their effect on learning.

Answer 2

Demographic information such as age, gender, personality, maturity, socio-economic status, cultural background, and specific needs of a learner such as particular skills and disabilities for and/or impairments to learning.

Question 3

Describe academic characteristics and their effect on learning.

Answer 3

Refers to learning atyles, learning goals (of an individual or group), prior knowledge, educational type and education level.

Question 4

Describe social/emotional characteristics and their effect on learning.

Answer 4

Relates to the group or to the individual, comprising group structure, place of the individual within a group, motivation, self-image (also feelings of self-efficacy and agency) and mood.

Question 5

Describe cognitive characteristics and their effect on learning.

Answer 5

Relates to attention span, memory, mental procedures, and intellectual skills which determine how the learner perceives, remembers, thinks, solves problems, organises and represents information in their brain.

Question 6

How do learner characteristics influence learning?

Answer 6

They have an impact on the speed at which learning occurs and the degree of support and guidance required during the learning process.

Question 7

Define CBT.

Answer 7

A form of talk therapy that helps people manage issues by identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It works by showing how thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected, teaching the ability to challenge negative thinking and replace it with more positive and adaptive behaviours.

Question 8

Why is CBT tailored to the patient’s needs?

Answer 8

It is important that therapists tailor the treatment to each client’s needs, as these may vary based on the diagnosis, the age, the willingness to learn, their personality, and their diagnosis. There are many tools, templates, worksheets, diaries and strategies for assisting clients with cognitive therapy; there is no one strategy that suits all clients equally.