Teaching to Learning Styles
When I first began teaching as a teaching assistant in graduate school, learning to teach to different learning styles was the most valuable thing I learned and I use it for teaching, when I lead meetings, even when I pitch ideas in my other job. I have found that appealing to each learning style helps all students learn better.
Hi Daniel,
This is a great exercise in learning preferences.
The students have to really enjoy watching the other students following their written instructions.
I use a similar exercise where I have students create commercials using the different learning preference channels. Great fun and really gets the point across to students about how we process information differently.
Gary
When giving a demo I require students to take notes and list the order in which to do things. That will become part of their project. The next step is to duplicate the demo from their notes with my observations, and finally update the procedures and steps so that anyone could follow them just through the notes. We then call in someone from another class and have them follow the written instructions only. We then discuss why it is so important to incorporate, as many learning styles as possible to make sure that your ideas are understood. It works pretty well and it’s fun for everyone.
I teach math and try to vary the learning styles by using PowerPoint slides, verbal instructions, note-taking and having the students practice problems in class with my help if needed.
I try to reach most learning styles by varying my teaching styles within my classes. I use a power point presentation mixed with discussions and demonstrations.
Hi Jim,
You are right because people with like kinds of personalities tend to go into like kinds of fields. I have been doing research on personalities in career fields and have identified eight workplace personalities and the career fields that support such personalities. Example a care taker personality will generally select health care, teaching or counseling types of careers. A organizer will select more exacting or precise careers like accounting or programming. In addition I have researched the seven intelligences that Howard Gardner has identified. I have developed an assessment called "Talent Assessment" to identify the three dominant intelligences for people. Combine all of this together can as instructors we can develop accurate delivery methods that target the learning preferences of our students as supported by their career personalities.
Gary
I've been finding that learning styles for some people vary from one subject to another. Some of the learning styles fit some classes better than others. Tech classes require a hands on practical application approach (tactile)
Valid comment Kym, understanding and focusing on the learning styles is important which effectively means to me you have to incorporate every form of delivery to maintain a viable and constructive learning environment. In addition to learning styles I try to identify learning abilities and address those as well, from my experience learning ability drives learning style and materially affects how both content are delivered and assessed. I see too many negative dependencies in learners today where they really do know how to learn or how they learn.
Hi Kym,
I am sure it was. Knowing learning styles and using them as planning tools for your instructional delivery is a great service to and for your students.
Gary
