CITY OF MALABON UNIVERSITY

Pampano corner Maya-maya St., Longos, Malabon City

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT LEARNERS AND LEARNING PRINCIPLES

This course focuses on child and adolescent development with emphasis on current research and theories
on biological, linguistic, cognitive, social, and emotional dimensions of development. Further, this includes factors
that affect the progress of development of the learners and appropriate pedagogical principles applicable for each
developmental level of the learners. The course also addresses laws, policies, guidelines, and procedures that
provide safe and secure learning environments, and the use of positive and non-violent discipline in the
management of learner behavior.

COURSE OUTCOMES

[1] demonstrate content knowledge and its application within and /or across curriculum teaching areas.
[2] demonstrate an understanding of the different research-based theories related to the broad dimensions of
child and adolescent development and their application to each developmental level of the learners.
[3] demonstrate understanding of pedagogical principles suited to diverse learners’ needs and experiences at
different developmental levels.
[4] demonstrate knowledge of laws, policies, guidelines, and procedures that provide safe and secure learning
environments; and
[5] demonstrate knowledge of positive and non-violent discipline in the management of learner behavior.

MODULE 5 WEEK 2
UNIT 2: BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Overview

As understood in the earlier discussion, development in several areas is interconnected independent with
one another. Physical development, however, is crucial among other developments in terms of the contributions
of the biological processes that can permit other developments such as cognitive, social, and moral domains.

This module discusses three areas by which physical development can be understood. It focuses on the
influence of genetic outcomes in the prenatal development. Although those changes that take place in the
prenatal stages will be immediately seen upon birth, subsequent physical development are determined by those
changes. This is followed by the presentation of changes in the physical characteristics of people from childhood
until adolescence stage. It highlighted developmental milestones pertaining to physical change such as muscular
and biological processes. Lastly it tackles the different factors that contribute to the physical development most
especially those that are accounted to environmental factors like prenatal attitude, knowledge, and practices.
Ultimately, these are presented in line with a possible implication to better understand learners, find proper
attributions in their behaviors, and use possible course actions that can improve the learning and teaching of
students and teachers, respectively.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you are expected to:

1. Discuss the concepts and theories related to the biological/physical development of children and
adolescents; and
2. Make connections, using knowledge on current research literature, between biological development
theories and developmentally appropriate teaching approaches suited to learners’ gender, needs,
strengths, interests and experience.

Key Words and Concepts

The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles Module 5

Content

A. Neuroscience and Brain Development

The Brain Cells and Regions

The number in size of the brain's nerve endings continued to grow until adolescence. some of
the things break increase in size is due to myelination, A process in which many cells of the brain and
nervous system are covered with an insulating layer of fat cells. This increases the speed at which
information travels through the nervous system. Other important facts that we must know about this
process include:

a. Myelination in the areas of the brain related to hand eye coordination is not complete until about
four years of age.
b. Myelination in brain areas that are important in focusing attention is not complete until the end
of the elementary school years.

Another important aspect of the brain's development is the cellular level is the dramatic increase
in connection between neurons or nerve cells. Synapses art by any gaps between neurons where
connections between neurons are made. The connections that are used will become strengthened and
will survive, while the unused ones will be replaced by other pathways or will disappear. These areas are
critical to determine whether synapses Will be strengthened or will survive for higher order cognitive
functioning such as learning, memory, and reasoning.

In a recent study that used sophisticated brain scanning techniques, children's brains were shown
to undergo substantial anatomical changes between the ages of three and fifteen (Brown & Jernigan,
2012). the amount of brain material in some areas can nearly double within a year, followed by a drastic
loss of tissue as unneeded cells are purged and the brain continues to reorganize itself. In the study, the
overall size of the brain did not change from 3 to 15 years of age (Lerner et al., 2015). However, rapid
growth in the frontal lobes, especially areas related to attention, occurred from three to six years of age.
Rapid growth in the temporal lobes (language processing, long term memory) and parietal lobes (spatial
location) occurred from age 6 through puberty.

One of the fascinating discoveries about the adolescent’s brain focuses on developmental stages
in the areas of the brain that involve emotion and higher-level cognitive functioning. the amygdala is a
region of the brain that handles the processing of information about emotion; the prefrontal cortex is
especially important in higher level functioning. Researchers have discovered that the very last part of
the brain to mature is the prefrontal cortex, where planning, setting priorities, suppressing impulses, and
weighing the consequences of one's action take place. This means that the brain region for putting brakes
on risky, impulsive behavior and thinking before acting is still under construction during adolescence.

B. Factors Affecting Biological/Physical Development

THREATS TO PRENATAL

Considering the delicate condition during pregnancy, there could be some threats to a successful
pregnancy.

1. Miscarriage - this happens when the baby is lost before the 20th week of gestation. Beyond
this, it is already considered as stillbirth. There are several reasons why pregnant women will
experience miscarriage. But the most common reason for such is the chromosomal
abnormalities. Aside from this factor, the other factors are discussed in succeeding part of
this module.
2. Ectopic pregnancy - while it is expected that the zygote will implant itself in the uterus, there
could be instances where it is implanted along the fallopian tube or elsewhere outside the
uterus. Since it is not designed to grow a zygote, it is rather the detrimental to have a
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 successful pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association has identified four possible
medical reasons for an ectopic pregnancy. These are infection or inflammation of the
fallopian tube, scar tissue from the previous infection or surgery, previous surgery in the
pelvic area, an abnormality in the tubes shape. Without prior medical examination, this can
happen without noticing it
3. Complications associated to pregnancy - upon gestation hormonal and biological changes are
expected rapidly. This may cause medical related complication that can cause loss of
pregnancy. Some of them are gestation diabetes preeclampsia, and infections. When are not
treated medically, this can cause fatality.
4. Bleeding or spotting - this is a blood discharge while on the gestation most specially during
the first trimester. The danger of bleeding depends on the frequency as well as the amount
of bleeding. One of the primary reasons on the occurrence of bleeding is the implantation
process. When the amount of bleeding is extraordinary plenty, this is something that should
be reported immediately to the medical doctor as it may signal irregularities to the
development of the baby.

PARENTAL CONTRIBUTION

Since parents are the immediate environment of the developing child, their impact is considered
unmeasurable, most specially during the early stage of life. The parenting beliefs are usually
translated into practice and may affect the range of opportunities provided to the child in fact
The United Nations International Children's Fund or UNICEF 2004 report on the importance of
caregiver child interactions, they placed the caregiver, in most cases the parents, central
component in the child general survival. Despite of the availability of resources provided by
government and private agencies, they only become relevant upon the initiative of the parents
or the caregivers to subscribe to the program being implemented.

It is important to point out that parental attitude, knowledge, and appreciation play central role
in maximizing the physical development periods focusing on the caregiving behaviors, awareness,
and familiarity about how they can engage on this behavior depend on the degree of their
preparation to taking their role as parents, most specially for first time parents. For instance, the
practice of breastfeeding does not only pertain to the commitment to do so but also to the depth
of knowledge one must continuously commit oneself to such practice. Limited and or selective
knowledge about such can be detrimental not to continuously practice breast feeding. the short
term and long-term effects of these attitudes, knowledge, and practice may not necessarily to be
known to everyone, hence positive and negative consequences maybe undermined. The
importance of having complete vaccination cannot be seen immediately since it serves as
protection against acquiring the seas is only upon exposure. rather than seeing it as health
investment, it can be perceived as financial burden most specially if medical services are not
readily available or not directly accessible.

The child rearing beliefs, knowledge, and practices can not only be attributed to the parent
themselves but also as a product of 1's cultural embeddedness. How children are approached
reflects a collective belief about people in general. The internal working model or the mental
representation of South and others are basis in terms of choosing certain behaviors towards
children. The difference in the physical activities that male and female may be exposed to its
anchored to collective gender belief system of a specific culture. Boys, for example, may be
allowed to engage more in physical activities while young girls have limited to almost no
opportunities for such. Because of this, the physical progress become more prominent, aside
from the basic biological differences that exist between them already. In many instances, adults
and boys are given much flexibility in their sexual attitudes and behavior event girls.

The above premise is very much evident among Filipino parents. While some young parents
practice more liberated approach in child rearing, many are still conservative in terms of
subscribing to the cultural expectations and beliefs about physical development of children. The
perception that children are weak and incapable of handling their self often used as basis to
restrict children from engaging to activities that may promote physical development.

PSYCHOSOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Although physical development is seen as significantly rooted from biological to genetic processes
and whatever changes appear are attributed as product of these processes. However, social
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 interaction, weather of the same age or not, can aid in increasing opportunities for physical
development. Among these opportunities are the amount of play engagement children are
provided. Aside from the social benefits of play, it is also a venue that allows to exercise muscles
and can have direct impact in the weight of children. Place that consistently involve the use of
muscles like the gross and fine muscles. Those that require running will make use of the girls’
muscles while those that require dealing with small toys or activities can lead to developing the
fine motors. During adolescence, social connections are venues of learning how to deal with
physical changes that are taking place. Parental efforts to teach their female offspring deal with
pregnancies that can lead an easier outcome. Among adults, most specially among older people,
group activities encourage not only keeping one social life active but also keeping one's bones
and muscles active. In this way, it may delay the muscular weakening. Across all stages, the quality
of social interaction with other people can contribute to the degree of one's engagement,
voluntary or not, in the physically enhancing activities.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Physical environment refers to non-social aspects of the one’s environment, such as but not
limited to, the place for one life and the accompanying materials within it. Space, for instance, is
significantly important for one to have more opportunities for movements. Children who live with
limited space may not warrant activities that require gross motor. Considering that changes in
the living spaces people were spaces both outside and inside the house is not very generous,
physical activities become optional then a constantly available opportunity. Another concern is
the availability of digital gadgets like tablets than lessens physical engagement. Long number of
hours of engagement to such does not only have impacted social connection but can also delay
the physical development. Filipino local games have been less played by the current generation
due to the alternative digital activities. Across stages, lesser physical activities can possibly lead
to weight issues.

In addition to space available is the issue of air pollution in garbage which has significantly
contributed to the health condition of people regardless of age. Children can easily acquire
respiratory related concerns due to the early exposures of pollutions. Deadly viruses have been
evolving to becoming more deadly given these atmospheric conditions. This is further reinforced
by the challenges people encounter in waste management. The vast amount of garbage people
is producing, and the mismanagement of waste disposal make children more susceptible two
acquire illness such as diarrhea and dengue specially those who have weaker immune system.
These illnesses can cause serious long term health problems if not given proper immediate
medical attention.

NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES

Knowledge and practices about nutritional components of what one is eating can have short- and
long-term effect. The degree by which health is given and attention should be the same as to the
degree that nutritional aspects should be given attention. Considering the era of commercialism,
food has not been filled with preservatives as well as regarded as a lifestyle. However, some may
have a belief that this healthy kind of lifestyle is rather expensive. Parents of younger children are
easily swayed by the promotion of media advertisements with the regard to their advantages
then pursuing natural based diets. For example, instead of infants being fed by vegetables when
introducing solid foods, some may prefer commercial infant foods which, again, have
preservatives. Interestingly, the quality of food one eats is also relative to where people live those
who resides in agricultural places or those who have opportunities for planting have higher
tendency to eat natural and healthy food compared to those who have access to canned and
instant food.

This susceptibility to acquire or unfold genetically inherited disease or illness also depends on the
quality of food being eaten. The huge amount of available sugar filled foods, not necessarily
deserts, in the market has significantly increased the number of diabetes cases. The issue on
providing wide variety of food in the market as well as scarcity of resources put many
manufacturers on the use of natural materials and ingredients to address these issues. This is not
withstanding the market competitions in there

The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles Module 5

Essay: Answer the following questions.

1. Based on the given information on this module, what are the precautions you would take to avoid a
negative effect for biological and physical development?

2. How would you use your knowledge on the factors affecting biological and physical development to your
everyday interaction with your students?

3. How does the brain functions affect the development of each person?

Summary and Reflection

One of the most evident changes that happen in an individual to development is the physical aspect.
While environment plays a significant role in one's physical development, most of the observable changes seeking
place can be sourced from process of genetic unfolding period since this area of development covers both internal
and external changes, it is expected that some of them can be noticeable while some may unfold without noticing
it. The physical changes in the late adulthood are obvious since one of the central developments in that stage is
the change in the physical features of a person. Likewise, there could be physical developments, at a certain time,
show rapid manifestation of changes. This happens most specially during adolescent stage where internal and
external changes happen within a short period of time

In some instances, physical development serves as indicators for the readiness for social, moral, and other
developments. Whether this is social norm or not physical change allow people to have transition from one stage
of development to the other. consequently, this also serves as the basis or source of expectations from other
people and how one should behave. When it comes to the adolescent’s full sexual development, expect them to
become more physically conscious, especially when it comes to clothing trends. In the same manner, people may
develop a negative attitude toward approaching late adulthood due to physical limitations one may have when
that stage has arrived

References:

Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles

The Child and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles Module 5