EP 101 Human Development and School Learning

Human Development is defined psychologically as “the pattern of movement or change that begins at conception and continues through the human life span” (Santrock, 2005).

Maturation

This refers to changes in mental abilities and functionability. E.g. Language use, thinking etc. Maturation involves to a large extent the unfolding of genetic code and that it is significantly a qualitative change of human development.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

i. Development is continuous versus discontinuous

ii. Development is directional

iii. Development is stageous

iv. Development is plastic

v. Development is dimensional

vi. Development is orderly

vii. Development starts from simple to complex (ref. vi above).

viii. Development involves qualitative and quantitative change.