UNDERSTANDING LEARNER DIVERSITY: COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Unique capabilities of an individual can only thrive in a proper learning environment, providing them with safety, comfortability and encouragement to shape their ideas. The backdated concept of one size fits all learning, where, all individuals were taught and dealt with in the same method, disregarding their cognitive capabilities, emotional and social requirements, which hindered the learners’ progress. In modern times, differentiated is not a luxury, but a necessity to nourish all the learners with proper guidance in such fields where they can excel. The cognitive capabilities vary from person to person, impacting their learning speed, memory span, critical thinking skill, which differentiate one from the other, while learners from different social backgrounds have varied mindsets and perceptions. The emotional requirements of the learners must be considered with great importance, as it impacts his/her ease of learning. Hence, differentiated learning acts as a great help in addressing every student from a newer perspective based on cognitive, social and emotional differences.