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? asked in Social SciencePsychology · 1 decade ago

1) Why do some students learn more than others?

2) What can be done to improve that learning?

- Related to Educational Psychology :)

20 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    Someone who doesn't know psychology or education would say :" well the most obvious answer would be that they are more intelligent, although another factor is how well they assimilate and grasp their ideas, thoughts and utilize them in a way that helps them as people. i mean having knowledge is one thing, but it is of no use to anyone if it is not applied effectively and put into good effect that benefits them and those around them as well.

    as for how that learning can be improved it is through reading and absorbing the info in their heads and one being open to all forms of communication and knowledge that is made avaliable to him/her",

    and be wrong.

    Students who learn more than others have been exposed to more stimuli from an earlier age. Aside from physical/mental limitations which can not be helped, no one child has any more advantage over another in the beginning. Again, keep in mind that stimuli is important for mind growth, motor skills, hand-eye coordination, building blocks for all other learning to come. Reading helps build the vocabulary, in addition to teaching the child to read. Proper nutrition is also very important for the physical development of the brain and body, and lack of proper nutrients will hinder the child's development in all ways. This has been proven time and time again, which is one reason many schools have breakfast and lunches available to the children to make sure they have the sustenance to perform well in their studies. Every child has the same chances and advantages. To say anything else, is obviously a very narrow minded way of implying that one is just naturally better than another. The child who is nurtured and cared for and educated by primary care givers will obviously have an advantage over the child who did not. That's nurture, not nature.

    What can be done to improve learning? Well, for starters, all children need to have proper nutrition; many programs are available to those who need it. Obviously, those from low income homes should not be disadvantaged, it is not the child's fault, and they should have the same chances as those whose families are better off. All children need to also have the stimuli from an early age, as early as possible. Have you heard how some expectant mothers play music, with headphones on their belly to allow the baby to hear? That is a start, reading to baby, and talking to baby is very helpful. Also, exposing baby to more than one language is advantageous at that time, it is easier for them to learn and be fluent in it, their pronunciation skills are still developing, and they will have even more of an advantage that way. Being multi-lingual is helpful is many ways. One additional suggestion, albeit not the last, there are many, is making sure the child feels loved and accepted, this helps build confidence, boosts immune system, and just makes for a more happy child. We have seen several instances in history, both past and recent, of what happens to neglected children, they act out and hurt others and themselves. Education is a very important part of helping to raise a child. Teachers and educators are so very important, and it is equally as important for all concerned to realize what needs to be done for proper care and development of children. I hope this made sense, I have so much information and I'm trying to type as fast as I can. Whew!

  • 1 decade ago

    For one, it can depend on how they are being taught. Some students are visual learners, others are auditory, while some are tactile learners. If they are in a classroom that only focuses primarily on one of the learning styles, it can be a challenge. Therefore, lessons that focus on all learning styles are crucial, but can be challenging if the resources are not available. Furthermore, they require extra help outside of the classroom. They need to be challenged to think other then when they are in school (exploring parks, museums, taking a creative arts class, etc.). Also, there may be an underlying developmental problem.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    You posted this already. You will get a workout from Wu Shu, and be less physically weak. You are a philosophy frosh in the honors track. You have time. I know a guy who is double majoring in biology and public policy, and is in the honors track for biology, just pledged an honors fraternity, and still manages to train 13 hours a week. And this is at one of the more challenging undergraduate unis in the states. If he can do it, you have enough time too. Also, take composition 101.

  • 1 decade ago

    Intelligence is more or less inherited.Memory depends on inherited quality and size of brain.If more intelligence and memory is there ,those people learn faster.There is no medicine to improve intelligence.But there are better ways to improve learning.

    1.Repeated reading improves memory.Learning is judicious forgetting.Unwanted things you discard and concentrate on important things.

    2.Get better text books and good teachers.

    3.Visual Leaning through video /CD will be more effective

    4.Writing same points repeatedly improves study.

    5.Auto Suggestion.Tell several times morning and before going to bed "I am very intelligent and becoming more intelligent every day.My memory power is increasing and I am improving in learning everyday"

    6.We use only one side of the brain usually.If we learn to use both sides of brain results will be fantastic.There are many one day workshops on Memorising and Fast Reading.Join one course.Nuero- Linguistic Learning/Practicing courses(NLP) are useful.

    Good Luck

  • 1 decade ago

    I feel that in school I could never pay attention! I wouldn't say I have A.D.D. nor would I ever take pills if I did! I just wasn't interested. I'm a smart girl however, I actually liked teaching myself. I feel I learn better that way, and am more proud of my accomplishment.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The problem comes in later years starting with Puberty. Up until that point a majority of kids do quite well with the basics.

    I think it's because water finds it's own level and kids entering puberty form into cliques. The Preppies, the Jocks, the NErds, the Brains, the Geeks, the Dopers, the Goths, The Gangstahs

    Each, then, develops their own postitive and negative bias.

    Preppie girls become masters at chemistry with double system hair coloring. They learn how to mix, time, apply. That is pure chemistry, but they can't apply it outside of that environment easily unless you approach them from that environoment. They are also technological experts, want to learn how to use a cell phone to it's fullest, ask a preppie. She texts, takes movies, uses Blue tooth, but she cant' necessarily apply this to a computer.

    The Jocks are the same. Ask them about the difference between types of Creatine and most can give you a heavy dissertation on speed, potency, reaction. Many are experts in protien and carb enhancers.

    While the Preppies shop at Victoria Secret and Fashion Bug, the Jocks shop at GNC and Dick's.

    The Jocks can probably show you and tell you about every muscle in the body.

    But this doesn't always translate over into Biology or Science.

    The Dopers know how to use a two and three beam scale better than the science teacher. They know all about grams and grains. They, however, have no desire to expand that into realms outside of their own limited scope.

    The brains are natural school learners. They are sponges that soke up ROTE as if it were air, itself. They, however, have few outside interests. Don't think much of sports. Don't dance. Don't socialize well.

    More success with education comes by feeding each type the kind of motivation they can understand. You want to teach math to a Preppie, make the problem about a shopping spree at Fashion Bug in which you give them 20 items to select from and a fixed amont of cash and they must take sales tax into account. They WILL solve the problem.

    YOu want to teach the JOcks more science, turn it into biochemistry and have them compute calories, protiens, carbs, ATP and they will solve the problem.

    The biggest thing I find is that some people don't deal well with abstracts. This is why Math suffers. This is also why grammar suffers.

    We take a long string of letters in math and ask them to simply this.

    We take a string of words and ask them to expand it using more adjectives, adverbs.

    On a subconcisus level the brain might go into conflict over this contradiction of expension and simplification.

    Also some brains can't see the tree from the forrest.

    I don't deal well with abstracts. I can't learn MATH without the real world.

    A formula in math is universal. Applicable to chemistry, physics, trig, geeometry. That's an abstract.

    I need to see the missing parts and how they fit together. That's the way my brain functions.

    I sit down an do a computer program in which I am trying to justify text. So I have constants (margins), variables (the text), items to look for (spaces) and I do a count of all letters and spaces and each word as it is types. Once I exceed the limit of my constants I must place that work in a que, subtract the amount of letters available to that line, find each space and add more spaces to fill in the line, then rewrite the line and take the extra word from the que and put it on the next line.

    My first attempt at that used 5 different routines and after I gave it all some thought I boiled it down (simplified the algorithm) to a single line. One routine using a dozen parenthesis for individual computations from the inside out.

    BUT I reached that conclusion not by look at the letters of my formula, but by thinking about the ACTUAL items I was dealing with. Counts, margins, word size, spaces.

    Once I saw the "things" in my head I could arrange them more logically.

    This is TOTALLY contrary to the way Alegbra is taught. Algebra ceases to deal in tangibles and starts dealing only in formula. Abstracts.

    Without the apples and oranges I'm lost.

    Newton DEVISED what we call the Calculus by applying it little by little to solve real problems he was involved with. Body motion problems. He invented this math to help him do the work.

    Now we teach it as an abstract. But that's not how it was devised.

    Not every brain works in abstracts.

  • 1 decade ago

    According to waiching liu, only asians are intelligent, and everyone else is inferior. She is a firm supporter of the killing of my people. She thinks she is intelligent, but she is stupid and hates everyone and herself. She is the reason there are kids in special ed class.

  • 1 decade ago

    Errmm.. That is pretty obvious. Let's say there's 2 kids; one that barely takes the time to study and do his/her work, and there's the other kid; he/she does his/her work, does extra, and concentrates, do you expect the first kid to do better?

    You see, it all depends on YOU. Like me, for instance, I am in 7th grade, I've never flunked once, I do my work, do extra, I've never goten a detention, the worse grade I got was a C, first thing after school is my homework and maybe a little extra. I do way better then others, why? Because I put effort into it. So try doing the same and you will see the diference. Don't think smart people were gifted, because they made themselves as you people call it "smart".

  • 1 decade ago

    every one has a different way they best take in knowledge that can be broken down in catagoric classes

    A. this group reads instructions and needs literature

    B. this group needs to see things visually and needs demonstrative instruction

    C.this group needs to feel it and needs hands on learning

    D.this group needs to hear how its done and and needs audible instruction

    these groups must be identified and catagorized accordingly and their learning will be more even

  • 1 decade ago

    I guess that they are uglier than the others, and need some kind friendly company in the books.

    What can be done to improve that? Hm, I suppose nothing could be done if the books are really better friends.

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