Understand Differences in Skills (Asynchronous Learners)
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Understand Differences in Skills (Asynchronous Learners)
If your student has very big differences in skills and it is a source of confusion or frustration at times
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Most people are "asynchronous learners" with some skills much stronger than others; helping students recognize, accept, and know how to work with these differences can be key to reducing anxiety and improving overall achievement. -
Adults need to first understand and recognize students' asynchronous skills. These skill differences can be within a domain, such as very strong verbal reasoning and weaker abstract reasoning. Or the differences might be across domains, such as strong reasoning and difficulties with executive functions. Alternatively, a student might be strong across Mindprint skills, but have social skills that are not as well-developed.
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While all students can have difficulty adapting to their asynchronous skills, oftentimes students with strong abstract or verbal reasoning skills have the most difficulty. These students often understand readily in elementary school but struggle only in a specific area or only when they move to middle or high school. Because of their strong reasoning abilities, adults might expect them to be strong across domains and might not recognize why or how the student is struggling. This mismatch of expectations and needs can be a source of stress or confusion.
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Keep in mind that asynchronous refers to the relative difference in skills. The difference between a strength and a skill in the expected range can create a challenge for a student, even if that student has no below expected skills.
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Most students who have asynchronous skills benefit from adults helping them understand and anticipate which tasks will come more easily and which will require more effort. When students understand and can anticipate challenges, they are more likely to overcome the challenge. If they don't understand, they might not believe they are capable and they might give up.
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Depending on the student's age, maturity and sensitivity, consider using the student's Mindprint profile as the starting point for a discussion about strengths and relative needs. Use the profile to have an objective discussion about which subjects or tasks might be easier and which might require more effort or help.
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Teach students specific strategies that will enable them to use their stronger skills on challenging tasks. Start with the recommendations in your student's Mindprint profile or the student overviews in your student's Personalized Learning Plan.
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Find opportunities to nurture your student's strengths so you can keep the student engaged, build self-confidence, and help them discover lifelong interests. You will find recommendations to nurture strengths in your student's Mindprint profile or the student overviews for strengths in your student's Personalized Learning Plan.