Why is it important to know the learner?

Answer 1

THE LEARNER can only start from where they are now.

Unless a teacher knows 'where the learner is' they will not know where to start, nor will they know at what 'level' to pitch the instruction, nor will they know the preferred learning styles of their pupil.

The teacher MUST know, or find out, (or make a very good guess at!) what the student knows already. Then both teacher and learner can build on that.

If the teacher tries to teach what the student alreadyknows, the student will learn nothing, and the whole matter will be a complete waste of time. At the other end of the scale, if the lessons are far too advanced for the student, the student will be quite unable to follow, understand, remember or apply anything of what they have been 'learning'. And, again, the lessons will be a complete waste of time.

Similarly, the teacher also needs to know the student's objectives, and their motives, and their interests. How else can the tutor help the learner to accomplish those objectives, and in the most effective, efficient and interesting way(s)!

Additionally the instructor must be aware the learner's personal capacity to learn; and their limits, and how to stretch those limits.

The teacher also needs to know, to some extent, the pupil's culture. In this way, many potential misunderstandings and pitfalls can be avoided.

TEACHERS! Your time is precious, and so is your student's. So ALWAYS identify the students aims, and where you will be starting from and go from there, choosing the best route for your student. So knowing your learner is the first step, and the path, the only path, to a mutually satisfying win/win situation!