Reluctant Learners and the Causes :: essays papers

Reluctant Learners and the Causes In order to discuss how technology motivates reluctant learners, we must first agree upon what exactly a reluctant learner is. According to Joyce M. Herzog, a reluctant learner is one who "is not interested in life at all, is not interested in what you are teaching, and is not able to learn in the time-frame or manner of presentation" (2002). There are several reasons as to why the student may feel the way he/she does. As a teacher, one must be very careful to make sure to take into consideration all of the reasons as to why a student may feel reluctant to put forth the necessary energy in the classroom. One reason may be that the student suffers from a learning disability, which is defined by the educational dictionary Wordsmyth as "any of various conditions thought to be associated with the nervous system, that cause difficulty in mastering a basic skill such as reading" (2002). "Various disabilities include ADD, communication disorders, and behavioral disorders" (Woolfolk, 200 4, p.124-131). Students with these disabilities are often seen as disadvantaged when it comes to learning in a typical school setting. Problems at home could also be a cause for reluctancy of students. According to BJUP.com, the primary stimulation for a child to develop and maintain enthusiasm for learning should come from the home. Families who are a solid unit and do activities together tend to have more motivated children (Let's Talk Motivation, 2005). Students who have supportive parents that foster learning are less likely to show reluctancy to learn in the classroom, while students whose home life is full of fighting and little academic support may show less interest in the classroom (Let's Talk Motivation, 2005). Another reason why a student may not be motivated to learn could be because of a low-socioeconomic status (SES). According to Woolfolk, low-SES students suffer from "poor health care, low expectations, low self-esteem, and learned helplessness" (2004, p.158-159). These students have much more on their mind than learning. One final reason why students may be reluctant to learn is because they have fallen into the stereotypes of gender traps. Knudson-Martin argues that "perceived gender differences are rooted in power differences that limit relational development for both women and men" (Knudson-Martin, 1999). This means that in a co-ed classroom, teachers may challenge boys more often than girls, attributing male fa ilure to a lack of effort and female failure to a lack of ability.