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need to be aware of as many factors that affect learning as you can. The more you know, the
better chance you have of positively influencing the learning process.
MOTIVATION
Perhaps the single most important factor in a student’s educational advancement is
motivation. Unfortunately, it is one of the hardest to get a handle on or to channel effectively.
Humans basically try to succeed and, conversely, try vigorously to avoid failure. While we need
to remember that occasional failure is human, we must do everything possible to organize
student efforts toward success. Simple things like word selection in the training environment
can add to or detract from the learning effort.
Motivation often has as much or more impact than scholastic ability. Students bring different
abilities and experience levels to the training environment. Motivation, or a lack thereof many
times determines whether or not a student masters the course objectives. Many times students
with the highest ASVAB scores do not make the grade while students who may have entered
your course with an academic waiver do very well. Talk to any seasoned instructor and he or she
can probably recall at least one special student who “made it” in spite of minimal background or
less-than-average ability. Little doubt exists that motivation, either internally or externally
stimulated, initiates behavior; directs it; and, when derailed, can reduce or stop it.
THE LEARNING SENSES
Sensory learning is the first that occurs
for any human being. Its
influence is
apparent in children as we watch them grow
up. Each sense, either singularly or in
various combinations, provides a pathway to
learning. With that in mind, an examination
of sensory learning and its special
considerations can provide insight into the
learning process.
Sight is considered the most important
sense, accounting for as much as 75 percent
of our basic learning. Most early learning
comes from seeing and imitating. Therefore,
you would be wise to consider using
appropriate
visual
aids
in
your
presentations. Remember, however,
to
recognize and accommodate students with
any visual impairment.
Figure 4-1.—Sensory learning percentages.
Hearing is the second most important sense, accounting for a large percentage of the
remaining sensory learning capacity. Experts differ on specific numbers, but the
significance of
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