FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNING

AND DEVELOPMENT
Reflection

Adolescence is the conjugator of childhood and adulthood according to

Louise J. Kaplan. Adolescence is a period of transition in terms of physical,
cognitive and socio-emotional changes. The aspect of individuality in adolescent
development is very unique to each individual, but there are some issues which
they may have a similarities. There is some changes on how they will interact to
the other people which it can affect to their learning and development.
There are some factors that influence the learning and development of the
high school learners. Family, school, peers, technology or media, and internal
factor are some of these.
The relationship between the family members is a major factor that
influences adolescents learning and development. If an adolescent belongs to a
family which they usually have conflicts and has poor communication skills, it will
have a negative effect on his behavior. He may not be able to focus on his studies;
it is hard for him to acquire knowledge when he is depressed because of family
problems. Therefore it is very important to have a good relationship between the
family members and has an effective parenting which parents nurture, encourage
and support (clear and consistent discipline) their children to prevent these
negative effects.
One of the factors that influence high school students is peers or a group of
people having the same age. Peers are said to be the source of satisfaction, reward
and identity development. According to the stage five of Eriksons Psycho-Social
Theory that the task during adolescence is to achieve ego identity and avoid role
confusion. Peers help the adolescents to find who they are and how they will fit to
the rest of the society. This is the stage where adolescents test their social skills to
develop and achieve the virtue which is fidelity, to proceed to the next stage or else
he will stock on this stage. Peers or friends also help to learn things by sharing
about their different cultures, beliefs and experiences and also by enhancing their
skills or talents.
School is another major factor that influences high school students learning
and development because it is the place where the students spend their almost
twelve hours every weekday. It is very important factor because this is the place

where they learn, develop and enhance their skills. It has a big impact for the
learning and development of the students on how the teachers treat them, the
facilities and learning materials available and the teaching method used by the
instructors. When the school has enough facilities, well-ventilated and comfortable
to study and the teachers are active or they used effective way of teaching and also
friendly, then the students will become more interested to attend their classes and
motivate them to study hard.
In this modern generation, technology and media are very influential for the
adolescents. Adolescents are now be able to know and learn things by just
searching through the internet. It is now easy for them to discover anything they
want which it can affect their learning and development. They can communicate
with others and be updated about the local and international news through social
media. Technologies are everywhere. Most people have their televisions,
cellphones and others which there is a possibility that it may influence the
adolescents.
Finally, the internal factor influences high school students learning and
development which it includes here the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical
health of an individual. A person could not be able to acquire knowledge and
develop skills when there is something wrong about him for example he has mental
disorder. How an adolescent able to focus on his study when he has emotional
problems? What if a person has no self-confidence to develop his talents or apply
all the knowledge he had learned in school? What if he keeps rejecting hisself to
understand or learn a lesson? So, it is still very important that an adolescent must
be in a good condition, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually because
when it is not, it may affect his performances at school.
Most of these factors such as family, peers, school and technology or media
are belong to the external factor which it is something to do on the adolescents
environment. According to Urie Bronfenbrenner on his Ecological Theory that the
environment has an effect on the development of the adolescent. If there is lack of
affection and care from the people around him and lack of facilities which it can
help him to become better person, then it may result to a negative impact in his
behavior such as lack of self-confidence and self-discipline and inability to provide
self-direction. The people around him must show their affection, support and
encourage them to do their best for their future. Bronfenbrenner said that the
primary relationship needs to be someone who can provide a sense of caring that is
meant to last a lifetime. This relationship must be fostered by a person or people
within the immediate sphere of the childs influence.