FAST

LEARNERSMaribel FernandezBSED-MAPEH 3Humprey Ian O. SagabaenBSED-RVED 3

EDST 105

FAST LEARNERS

Fast Learners are people who learn lessons, topics, or concepts at a faster rate, who possess keen intellectual discernment and a strong practical sense.

FAST LEARNERS

Fast learning (also

called speed or

quick learning) is

one of the

characteristics of

gifted learners.

CAUSESPre-natal – Hereditary

Post-natal – Environmental Factors

Learning and Behavioral

CHARACTERISTICS

of Fast Learners

Learning Characteristics:

Verbal Proficiency

Fast learners have

advanced

vocabulary for age

or grade.

Use words easily

and accurately.

Verbal Proficiency

Speak fluently and

elaborately.

Read

independently a

great deal.

Enjoy difficult

reading materials.

Reasoning Skills Fast learners have

excellent reasoning skills.

Tend to intellectualize, conceptualize, and synthesize.

Can see similarities, patterns and differences.

Reasoning Skills

Can generalize

from one situation

to another.

Find pleasure in

intellectual

activities.

Knowledge Base

Fast learners know

a great deal about

a variety of topics.

Have quicker

mastery and recall

of factual

information than

other children of

the same age.

Knowledge Base

Are interested in

"adult" topics such

as religion, race

relations, peace

and disarmament,

politics, the

environment.

Learning Efficiency

Fast learners

can process a

great deal of

information quickly.

Learning Efficiency

Have rapid

insight into

cause-effect

relationships.

Are very

observant.

Intense Curiosity

Fast learners have

questioning and

inquisitive attitudes.

Ask many unusual

or provocative

questions (not just

informational or

factual questions).

Intense Curiosity Are interested in the

"why" and "how" of things.

Are concerned with what makes things right or wrong.

Have areas of "passionate" interest inside or outside of school.

Originality Fast learners have

the ability to generate original ideas and solutions.

Can reason out problems logically.

Find new and unusual ways to approach and solve problems.

Originality

Can analyze

complicated

material into

component parts.

Enjoy difficult

problems and

puzzles.

Power of Concentration

Fast learners are

goal-oriented

people.

Persist in achieving

self-determined

goals.

Have long

attention span.

Power of Concentration Work on tasks until

completion especially when motivated or inspired.

Need little encouragement from others when working on areas of interest (intrinsically motivated or inner directed.)

Set high personal standards.

Behavioral Characteristics:Fast learners…

Can become perfectionists

Are success-oriented; tend to avoid something where failure is a possibility

Have a keen sense of humor; love absurdities, jokes, pranks

Can have poor social acceptance by age peers

Listen to only part of the explanation; appear to have low concentration

Show dislike and boredom for repetition

Behavioral Characteristics:Fast learners…

Often prefer company of older students and adults

Become focused or absorbed when interested

Become impatient with interferences and distractions

Can be stubborn in their own beliefs

Empathize with others; understanding and sympathetic

Show impatience with waiting for other students

Are perceived as too serious

TEACHING

STRATEGIES

According to Maker in 1986

More time might

be spent on

higher levels of

thinking

Research skills

might be taught

earlier

According to Maker in 1986

Material might

be presented at

a faster rate

And the ideas

taught might be

more complex

Give fast learners additional, more level-appropriate activities. (they may not like the idea that they have to do extra work simply because they learn fast)

Extra work will keep them from being bored or impatient when others need to go over a concept again.

Encourage quick

learners to take on

an independent

project that is

related to your

lessons in content.

Give fast learners

the opportunity to

share ideas

verbally and in

depth in class or

group discussions.

Allow fast learners

to approach

problems and

learning in diverse

ways. Let them

think out-of-the-

box.

Fast learners may feel frustrated about themselves and with other students’ lack of ability to understand concepts or generalizations. Instruct them to consider that their feeling of frustration is an emotional impulse and that having patience is an issue of self-control.

Remind fast

learners that being

smart does not

mean they are

better than other

students. How they

apply this gift is

more important.

References: Yewchuk, C (1998). Learning Characteristics of Gifted Students:

Implications for Instruction and Guidance. Retrieved January 10,

2014, from http://www.giftedchildren.org.nz/apex/v12art06.php

Norman, L. (n.d.). How to Help Quick Learners with Patience.

Retrieved December 03, 2013, from

http://www.ehow.com/how_8483577_quick-learners-patience.html

Characteristics of the Gifted Learner Parent Survey [PDF file]. (n.d.).

Retrieved from

iu19giftednetwork.wikispaces.com/file/view/Parent%20survey.pdf

Teaching Strategies for Students with Diverse Learning Needs [PDF

file]. (1996). Available from

www.nebraskasocialstudies.org/pdf/tsfswdln.pdf

Thank you very

much! ^_^