Identifying barriers to learn is key!

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Barriers to learning and development are a major disturbance to students academic progress.  Mostly, lecturers assume that students fail because of lack of interest in their studies or because they don't want to be part of the learning process. Identifying the real challenge causing a delay in how the students learns is important.  I have noticed that sometimes invisible physical conditions of students can impact their learning negatively. For instance, I have a short sighted student in my class and he had challenges following our classroom discussion. We were working on computers and he had trouble seeing letters and words on the computer monitor.  I couldn't diagnose that he was struggling until after class when he approched me and siad, "Sir I have a problem." It was that phrase that made me wonder, "what is it now?" fortunately, he explained the situation and thereafter, I had to set up his work station and explain things to him on one one session with him.  It based on such reasons and many other unmentioned ones that teachers should be able to identify barriers to learning and development.    

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