Educational Implications of Individual Differences b.ed notes

 

Educational Implications of Individual Differences

Educational importance of individual differences- 

1. Class Classification – 

Every student taking admission in school is quite different from the other student. Therefore, for their social development, they should be kept in different sections on the basis of merit. 

On the basis of this division, three types of classes can be formed. Children with bright intelligence, children with normal intelligence and children with slow intelligence. These classes of students can also be created on the basis of their results in previous classes. In these categories, teachers should also be kept in the same category.

2. Size of the Class – 

Today, the number of students in the class is very high due to which the teacher is not able to pay attention to all the children and is not able to solve their individual difficulties. 

From this point of view, the number of students in the class should be kept very less so that the teacher can pay attention to each student and solve his problems. Psychologists are of the opinion that the number of students in a class should not exceed 20.

 

3. Individualized Instruction – 

Today there is a system of group teaching in all the schools which is faulty. Due to differences in mental abilities, not all students are able to benefit from this system. A teacher also does teaching work keeping in mind the average student, due to which bright and slow minded children do not get any benefit. 

Therefore, arrangements for individualized teaching should be made in every school so that every student can benefit. Emphasizing on the system of individual education, 

Crow and Crow have written - “It is the duty of the school to provide suitable education for every child, no matter how different he may be from all other children. yes. 

Ross has also written in this regard – “The real solution to the difficulty is not classification according to types but individual teaching.”

4. Attention towards Physical Defects – 

An intelligent and qualified teacher makes arrangements for teaching keeping in mind the physical defects of the students. Teachers make students who are hard of hearing or have weak vision or who are short in height sit at the front of the class. 

Apart from this, a doctor should be appointed in every school who will examine every student regularly. Arrangements for rest hours and breakfast should be made for weak and extremely poor children. 

In this regard, Skinner has given the following suggestions:

 

(i) Children who are hard of hearing should be given a place at the front in the class.

(ii) Rest hours should be fixed for weak and malnourished children.

(iii) Medical examination of every child should be done.

5. Sex-based education – 

Boys and girls have different interests and abilities from each other. Therefore, education should be given according to these. There may be same subjects for boys and girls till primary level but not at secondary level. 

For example, girls are interested in subjects like language, art, music, home science, while boys are interested in science, mathematics, philosophy, logic etc. Subjects should not be imposed on students but they should have the freedom to choose only those subjects in which they are interested.

6. Curriculum – 

There should not be rigidity in the curriculum but it should have flexibility. Also, there should be so many subjects in the curriculum so that the student can pursue the subject of his interest. 

The curriculum should be designed to suit the mental level of the student, neither too simple nor too complex. If this does not happen, mentally retarded children lag behind and bright students become unruly. 

Skinner 's view regarding this is - "Whatever may be the reasons for the differences of children, the reality is that the school should face them through different curricula."

 

7. Home Assignment – 

Individual differences should be kept in mind while giving home work to the teacher. Children with strong intelligence should be given more and difficult tasks, whereas children with normal and slow intelligence should be given less and easier tasks according to their mental ability. Students also benefit by doing this. 

While giving homework, the child's condition should also be kept in mind, such as less homework in childhood, more homework in adolescence and children older than this should be motivated for self-study.

8. Teaching Methods – 

All students cannot be taught with the same teaching method. In ancient times, gurus used to teach all their students collectively in the same manner. 

If a mentally retarded child did not understand something, he was beaten. But it is not so today. Psychologists have simplified the teaching task by discovering modern teaching methods. 

That is why it has been said to adopt Montessori and Kindergarten system for small children and project method and instructional system for adolescent students.

 

9. Guidance- 

Before taking admission in school and after leaving school, the child faces many types of educational, professional and personal problems which can be easily solved through guidance. The knowledge of individual differences has helped us to understand that we should help the student in selecting the subjects and areas of his interest only in the context of his physical and mental abilities, interests, capabilities, special abilities and aptitudes etc. This is what we call educational and vocational guidance.

10. Teaching Aids – 

We are well aware of this fact. That children do not take interest in the same teaching material, hence it is necessary that different types of teaching material be used in infancy, childhood and adolescence. 

In today's time, audio-visual materials like television, computer, head projection etc. are mostly used but not all children take equal interest in them. This is the reason why the teacher takes the help of various types of charts, models, pictures and diagrams to make his teaching interesting.