Factors that Determine Readiness to Educational Learning

There are certain factors that determine the readiness of children to educational learning and we are going to have a closer look at the information’s below which include but not limited to relevance of materials and methods of instruction and many more.

One of the principles of learning postulated by Edward Thorndike is Law of Readiness. The principles holds that before an organism acts (i.e. learns), it has to be ready – the tendency of the learner before making a connection between stimulus and response (i.e. learning).

The readiness is defined as a”state of body, mind and feeling produced by a combination of growth (maturation) and experience which implies fitness and ability to embark on some new task.” simply put, readiness is the levels of preparedness of a learner that enables him to learn new task.

Factors that Determine Readiness to Learn

– Maturation

This refers to the sort of growth and development that occurs mostly independent of any effort to promote it. Maturation determines the extent to which various body structures and organs are ready to perform complex action.

It is when various part of the body are fully developed that certain complex learning is made possible. No matter the level of motivation or environmental treatment, learning cannot take place if certain organs in the body are yet to fully develop (e.g brain).

– Experience

Experience here is simply defined as previous learning or entry behavior. Entry behavior refers to the knowledge, skills etc, a learner is supposed to possess before learning a new task. The science of learning states that some basic skills are necessary before complex tasks are tackled.

Read Also: The Definition, Types and Theories of Learning

Relevance of Materials and Methods of Instruction

A learner may be capable (i.e. matured) and may posses the experience needed but may fail to learn if the materials to be learnt are not suitable or relevant. This holds true if the methods of instruction are not relevant.

Other factors: some other factors of importance include level of motivation, positive attitude and learners’ personal adjustment. These factors are important in the acquisition and constructive use of readiness.

Building Readiness

Providing pre-school experience: pre-school experiences include those skills needed by a child before formal schooling system. They are needed by all children if they are to adapt to the demand of school. They include:

• Writing painting, counting use of vocabulary etc.
• Social skills such as sharing cooperation, competition, group work, following rules and regulations
• Others: pictures study, book study etc.

Providing Readiness Programs in Schools:

Children in school who show lack of Readiness in school tasks school be identified. Diagnostic tests and other procedures should be used to identify such children. Then remedial classes should be provided according to the children’s deficiencies.

Building Self- Confidence

Psychologists have emphasized that positive attitude to oneself (i.e. positive self-concept) is a very important factor that determines one’s readiness to learn.

Therefore, teachers should strive hard to build self-confidence through the following:

• Frequent praise by teachers
• Giving room for competition
• Giving student’s responsibilities
• Individual counseling.

Readiness to learn is one fundamental principle of learning to take place effectively. Readiness factors must operate. Hence, teachers need to understand the concept of readiness as well as how readiness can be built.

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