Definisi Slow Learner
Slow learners are children who are doing poorly in school, yet are not eligible for special education; their intelligence test scores are too high for consideration as a child with mental retardation (Mercer, 1996) (MacMillan, Gresham, Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).
Although slow learners may have special educational needs, they do not fit neatly into the special education system (MacMillan, Gresham, Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).
“children who are doing poorly in school, yet are not eligible for special education” (Shaw, Grimes & Bulman, 2005: 11).
Murid slow learner, murid yang lambat belajar atau murid lembam merupakan murid yang mempunyai IQ di bawah paras purata. IQ murid normal secara puratanya adalah 100. Skor ujian IQ bagi Slow learner berada antara 70 dan 90. Jika skor IQ kurang daripada 70, murid tersebut dikategorikan sebagai terencat akal.
1. A slow learner has traditionally been identified as anyone with a Full Scale IQ one standard deviation below the mean but not as low as two standard deviations below the mean. If a cognitive assessment (IQ test) has a mean (average) of 100, we expect most students will fall within one standard deviation of 100. That means that most students have an IQ of 85 to 115. Those who fall two standard deviations below the mean are often identified as having an Intellectual Disability (IQ below 70). A slow learner does not meet criteria for an Intellectual Disability (also called mental retardation). However, she learns slower than average students and will need additional help to succeed.
2. A "slow learner" is not a diagnostic category, it is a term people use to describe a student who has the ability to learn necessary academic skills, but at rate and depth below average same age peers. In order to grasp new concepts, a slow learner needs more time, more repetition, and often more resources from teachers to be successful. Reasoning skills are typically delayed, which makes new concepts difficult to learn.
3. Typically, a slow learner has difficulty with higher order thinking or reasoning skills. This suggests that it will be more challenging to learn new concepts. New skills need to be based upon already mastered concepts. This can be difficult when the majority of the class has already mastered a concept and is moving on, while the slow learner needs more time. This can lead to gaps in knowledge and basic skills. The more gaps in a content area, the more challenging it is for anyone to learn new concepts.
Lebih kurang 1 daripada 5 orang kanak-kanak yang dilahirkan adalah slow learner. Kanak-kanak ini biasanya lambat berjalan dan lambat bertutur. Antara penyebab slow learner adalah kecederaan teruk pada kepala, meningitis, penggunaan alkohol atau dadah oleh ibu semasa mengandung.
Di negara barat, slow learner tidak termasuk dalam kategori masalah pembelajaran dan bukan terencat akal. Oleh sebab itu mereka tidak layak untuk berada dalam kelas Pendidikan Khas.
Definisi Masalah Pembelajaran
Kanak-kanak bermasalah pembelajaran di definisikan sebagai kanak-kanak yang tidak menunjukkan keupayaan mereka pada tahap intelektual yang dimiliki. (A Learning Disability is defined as a child who is not performing to their level of intelligence).
Contohnya, murid A mempunyai IQ 100 tetapi skor tahap pembacaan adalah 80 (berdasarkan ujian pencapaian individu), maka dia mempunyai ketidakupayaan pembelajaran bacaan (Reading Learning Disability). Murid A membaca 20 mata kurang daripada skor IQ yang dimiliki. Ia melayakkan mereka mendapat Pendidikan Khas.
Berbanding murid B, murid slow learner yang mempunyai IQ 80 dan membaca pada tahap skor 80. Murid B mempunyai masalah dalam bacaan tetapi tidak mempunyai ketidakupayaan pembelajaran. Mereka menunjukkan keupayaan sebenar mereka dan tidak memerlukan Pendidikan Khas.
Definisi Masalah Pembelajaran
Kanak-kanak bermasalah pembelajaran di definisikan sebagai kanak-kanak yang tidak menunjukkan keupayaan mereka pada tahap intelektual yang dimiliki. (A Learning Disability is defined as a child who is not performing to their level of intelligence).
Contohnya, murid A mempunyai IQ 100 tetapi skor tahap pembacaan adalah 80 (berdasarkan ujian pencapaian individu), maka dia mempunyai ketidakupayaan pembelajaran bacaan (Reading Learning Disability). Murid A membaca 20 mata kurang daripada skor IQ yang dimiliki. Ia melayakkan mereka mendapat Pendidikan Khas.
Berbanding murid B, murid slow learner yang mempunyai IQ 80 dan membaca pada tahap skor 80. Murid B mempunyai masalah dalam bacaan tetapi tidak mempunyai ketidakupayaan pembelajaran. Mereka menunjukkan keupayaan sebenar mereka dan tidak memerlukan Pendidikan Khas.
Special Education services are provided for students who have a disability. Slow learners typically do not have a disability, even though they need extra support. Cognitive abilities are too high for these learners to be considered for an Intellectual Disability. However, the abilities are usually too low to be considered for a Learning Disability.
