Understanding your learners

 

• Teachers

• Tutors

• Teaching assistants

• Learning support staff

• Lecturers

• Note-takers and accessors

• Disability support services

The idea is that staff observe and discuss:

• What the learner finds easy

• What they find difficult

• How they think and process information

• How they prefer to learn

• Their strengths

• Their difficulties with planning or organisation

This approach comes from research in Educational Psychology and was introduced by John H. Flavell, but as you rightly pointed out, it has only gradually been used in real classrooms and workplaces over time.

Below is a structured guide you could include in your book or training materials.

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Understanding Learners Through Metacognition

Professionals should try to understand how each learner thinks and learns.

Every learner is different.

Some people learn best through reading, others through listening, seeing pictures, or doing practical tasks.

Understanding this can help teachers and support staff provide better support.

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Key Questions for Staff

When supporting a learner, professionals can think about the following areas.

1. What does the learner find easy?

Examples:

• Listening to explanations

• Remembering pictures or diagrams

• Practical tasks

• Discussions or group work

• Using technology

Recognising strengths helps build confidence and motivation.

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2. What does the learner find difficult?

Examples:

• Reading long texts

• Writing essays

• Remembering instructions

• Organising tasks

• Time management

Understanding difficulties helps staff adapt teaching methods.

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3. What is the learner good at?

Some learners may have strong abilities such as:

• Creativity

• Visual thinking

• Problem solving

• Memory for facts

• Practical skills

Focusing on strengths is important, especially for people with learning differences.

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4. What does the learner struggle with the most?

Examples:

• Planning work

• Breaking tasks into steps

• Starting assignments

• Understanding complex instructions

• Managing deadlines

Staff can support this by providing:

• Step-by-step instructions

• Visual schedules

• Extra time

• Checklists

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5. How does the learner prefer to learn?

Learners may prefer:

• Visual learning (pictures, diagrams, charts)
• Listening (lectures, audio, discussion)
• Reading and writing
• Hands-on learning (practical activities)

Understanding learning preferences can improve teaching strategies.

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Understanding the Way a Person Thinks

Some learners:

• Think visually

• Think verbally

• Think in patterns

• Think slowly but deeply

• Need more time to process information

This does not mean they are less capable.
It simply means they process information differently.

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Planning and Organisation Difficulties

Many learners struggle with:

• Planning assignments

• Organising information

• Time management

• Starting tasks

Support strategies may include:

• Breaking tasks into smaller steps

• Providing clear instructions

• Using planners or reminders

• Checking progress regularly

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Why This Approach Helps

When professionals understand a learner’s thinking style and learning preferences, they can:

✔ Adapt teaching methods
✔ Provide better support
✔ Reduce stress and frustration
✔ Improve learning outcomes
✔ Help learners become more independent

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Easy Read Version (For Your Book)

Teachers and support staff should try to understand how people learn.

Everyone learns in different ways.

Some people find things easy.

Some people find things hard.

Staff should think about:

✔ What the learner is good at
✔ What the learner finds difficult
✔ How the learner likes to learn
✔ What support helps them

This can help teachers teach better and help learners feel more confident.

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✅ This section would fit very well in your book in a chapter like:

“Understanding Learning Strengths and Difficulties”

or

“How Professionals Can Support Different Learners.”

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If you like, I can also create something that would be extremely useful for your book and training materials:

A “Learning Strengths and Difficulties Profile Sheet”

This would be a one-page tool teachers and support workers could use to quickly understand:

• Strengths

• Difficulties

• Learning preferences

• Planning skills

• Support strategies

It would be very powerful for education, disability support, and workplace training.