Gender Differences in Learning
The classroom is composed of an interesting bunch of learners. Most of the time, they all look eager and enthusiastic. It cannot be denied, however, that no two individuals learn in the same way. This is especially true when they are of different genders. One of the primary differences between a male and a female is how they learn and how to best approach their learning style. Clearly, this poses a concern for the teacher who has both genders in the classroom.
The key, then, is to find out about those essential male and female differences, devise appropriate strategies, and incorporate both into the classroom set-up. Basically, the disparity exists in three domains and has to do with intellectual, physical, and emotional abilities. Interestingly, studies have shown that girls tend to set higher academic standards for themselves than boys. They are so conscious about their accomplishments that they evaluate themselves against self-imposed criteria. Consequently, they tend to perform better in school than the majority of the boys, as evidenced by their higher grades in all the subject areas.
On the other hand, this has a downside to it when it comes to boys’ and girls’ emotional development. Just because girls are academic achievers doesn’t mean that they become confident enough in their abilities to stay motivated. The boys, in the meantime, believe in themselves so much despite their intellectual output that they tend to disregard classroom tasks even more.
In order to keep these two groups enthusiastic about learning, something has to be done about their beliefs. The females should be made to realize that being overly critical about their abilities will not do them any good. Their efforts should likewise be recognized so that they know that they are already doing well and that there is no need to push themselves any further. Meanwhile, the boys should be made to realize that they are not performing well and if they really want to prove their abilities then it has to show in their academic achievements.
Then again, males have their own specialty when it comes to intellectual and physical capacities. Most men are gifted with the spatial intelligence that allows them to manipulate objects in their mind. They are abstract thinkers and analysts in ways that most women cannot seem to easily follow. They excel in engineering, designing, painting, and military tactics because of their keenness to objects and details. As such, as learners, males get stimulated more when they are asked to tinker with something or made to answer puzzles, chess games, and other mind-boggling activities. Instead of asking them to talk, they learn more when they are asked to show how things work.
Finally, in stressful situations, men and women also react differently. Women are known to turn to their friends for social support. Talking about their concerns help them ventilate their feelings and becomes a step toward recovery. When it comes to test-taking, however, they will also tend to rely on their friendly neighbors for the answers. In this case, a limitation on this kind of social assistance in the classroom should be emphasized.
Men and women have more differences that could be imagined. What is most important is that the teacher doesn’t become biased based on his or her own gender and instead becomes accommodating enough to help males and females in their learning goals.
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