Deutsch: Lernender, Español: Aprendiz, Português: Aprendiz, Français: Apprenant, Italiano: Colui che apprende
Learner in the psychological context refers broadly to an individual who acquires knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, or behaviors. Psychology views the learner as the active subject in the learning process, which involves cognitive, emotional, and environmental interactions. The term is central to educational and developmental psychology.
Definition and General Significance
The concept of the learner is crucial as it shifts the focus from the act of teaching to the process of acquisition and the internal factors that influence it:
-
Active Agent: Unlike older models that viewed the learner as a passive recipient, modern psychology (especially constructivism) sees the learner as actively constructing knowledge and making meaning.
-
Individual Differences: The term emphasizes that every learner is unique, possessing distinct cognitive abilities, prior knowledge, motivation levels, and learning styles (or preferences).
-
Holistic View: A "learner" is not just a brain absorbing facts but an individual whose emotions, social context, and physical development significantly impact how and what they learn.
Examples
The term "learner" is applied across various psychological theories and settings:
-
Behavioral Psychology: A person whose behavior changes (e.g., stopping at a red light) due to conditioning (reward or punishment) is a learner.
-
Cognitive Psychology: A student who actively encodes and retrieves information (e.g., memorizing a historical date) is a learner.
-
Social Learning Theory: A child who observes and imitates a parent's social behavior (e.g., sharing toys) is a learner.
-
Educational Context: A student who struggles with reading may be categorized as a learner with a specific learning difference or disability.
Significance in Modern Society
The psychological understanding of the learner drives modern educational and training practices:
-
Personalized Education: Recognition of learner variability mandates educational systems to move towards differentiated instruction and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
-
Lifelong Learning: In a rapidly changing global economy, the identity of a learner is no longer restricted to childhood but extends across the lifespan (adult learning or andragogy).
-
Neuroscience Integration: Research on brain development and plasticity informs how environments and methods can be optimized to facilitate learning in different stages of life.
Treatment and Healing (Addressing Learning Challenges)
The concept of "treatment" or "healing" applies specifically when a learner faces significant obstacles or Learning Disabilities (LDs), such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or ADHD, which interfere with typical learning processes. The goal is to maximize their learning potential.
-
Diagnosis and Assessment: Comprehensive psychological and educational assessments are conducted to identify the specific nature of the learning challenge (e.g., processing speed, working memory deficit, phonological awareness).
-
Specialized Instruction (Intervention): The core treatment is a tailored educational approach:
-
Remediation: Using targeted, evidence-based methods (e.g., the Orton-Gillingham approach for dyslexia) to improve the deficient skill.
-
Accommodation: Adjusting the learning environment or testing procedures to bypass the deficit (e.g., giving extended time, allowing text-to-speech software).
-
-
Cognitive and Emotional Support: Addressing secondary issues like low self-esteem or anxiety often associated with learning struggles through counseling or therapy.
-
Neurofeedback and Executive Function Coaching: Techniques to help learners regulate attention and improve planning/organization skills, especially for those with ADHD.
Recommendations (Optimizing the Learning Process)
For maximizing the effectiveness of the learning process for any individual:
-
Metacognition: Encourage learners to become aware of how they learn best (thinking about thinking). This includes teaching them to plan, monitor, and evaluate their own learning strategies.
-
Growth Mindset: Cultivate the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work, rather than being fixed traits (coined by Carol Dweck). This promotes resilience against failure.
-
Spaced Repetition and Retrieval Practice: Utilize evidence-based study techniques like reviewing material over increasing intervals and actively testing oneself (retrieval) rather than passively rereading.
-
Meaningful Context: Connect new information to the learner's existing knowledge and real-world relevance, as meaningful learning is far more effective than rote memorization.
Similar Terms
-
Student
-
Acquirer
-
Trainee
-
Cognitive Agent
-
Learning Styles (though controversial, still commonly used)
Summary
The Learner is the central psychological concept representing the individual actively engaged in acquiring knowledge, skills, or behaviors. The key significance is the recognition of individual differences (cognitive, emotional, social) that influence this process. While the general learning process is optimized through strategies like Metacognition and fostering a Growth Mindset, specific learning challenges are "treated" via Specialized Instruction (remediation and accommodation) based on comprehensive psychological assessments, ensuring all learners can reach their maximum potential.
--