Instructors can benefit from an awareness of the learning styles of the students in the classroom because it can allow them to more effectively teach to all the students. Since there is often diversity in classroom with learning styles, instructors must diversify their delivery of the material.
Instructor can take this knowledge and adjust their delivery and activities. If an instructor uses PowerPoint as a method of delivery, there should be visuals, brief desciptions, audio (if applicable), and perhaps even an in-class activity that allows students to synthesize the information in a creative way. With keeping in mind the different styles, instructors can reach most of the students in the classroom.
One challenge I see is reaching the tactile learners when the class is primarily lecture and information delivery. I teach a research based course in which I offer a lot of practicle executions of the projects in hopes that I touch upon all the learning styles of my students.
Visual aids are the best I believe.All other diversity can be built upon this view.
Susan, I have very diverse classes with older students, second career types, and those just out of high school. It is a constant battle (although a healthy one) to establish the auditory, written, visual and kinesthetic students. It helps to use a variety of classroom techniques like in-class verbal case study problem solving, a written computer based project, written problem solving. Once in a while I will stop in the middle of the class and ask "how can I make this a better class?" While opening myself up, it is helpful. Jeff Emmons
Knowing the learning styles of the students enables the instructor to teach more effectively by matching the students VAK style - it allows the student to learn quickly. Some students who are VK (which is the most dominant of the learning styles) are primarily visual with a secondary Kinesthetic (internal K or external K) and if you know a student is both VK for instance - it is fun to do a synesthesia (a mixture of both V and K or A and V) for instance - "you can SEE the MUSIC" gets a student to process the information simultaneously in both V and A representational systems.
Great point,Your observation is key to when a student is starting to get out of control.He or she will tell you what you need to know by their actions.
Hi Dianne - Welcome to ED 103! That is a really short time with a group of students, but it sounds like you have a diversity of delivery styles built in. Be sure to add some visual aids to your lecture though. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Knowing the learning styles would help me understand and know the differences I observe among the students. I do find lately and maybe its because of the size of my class that if I knew the learning style I and my class would be able to deal with the stress of trying to control the students. I only have the students for 3 weeks and it is really hard to get to know them and their styles in such a short time. The class is set up to lecture, demo and hands on. I am hopeing that I am targeting approximately 50 to 60 % or more with my delivery.
Knowledge of each individual students learning style is a great benefit for planning and delivering the instructional material. With this knowledge you know have the opportunity to ensure that you lesson targets the students in a method that they can understand. It also helps the student understand the information easier and thus feel more comfortable about learning the material.
By understnding this you are able to reach more students and be flexable in delivery.
i like to find out about my students on day one, i basically ask them how they learn best. once i find the mojority, and teach that style mainly. i incorporate more than just the main but focus on which way is best for the majority. i am lucky as the majority of my students are visual as well as kinetic. i agree with this being a key factor in their ability to retain the information i am providing them
That is a great idea! I will try this in my next class. Thanks for the too.
Catharine
Hi Rufus - Welcome to ED 103! Teaching to the learning styles of your students will indeed produce the results you mention including "happy Deans and Department Chairs"! Best wishes -Susan
knowing the learning styles of a class can make the learning experance interesting and more diverse for the entire group. To be able to shift through all the lerning styles during a lecture can also enhance the instructors effectiveness.
The benefits are:
- Selecting delivery techniques best suited to facilitate student retention of course content
- A higher percentage of successful students
- Knowing how to present material in a one-on-one situation when a student is having trouble mastering the course content
- Increased student retention
- Department Chairs and Deans happier with your performance
By knowing what helps your students learn most effectively you will ensure overall success in their education. This specific knowledge allows you to utilyze all styles necessary for each person in that group to excell in their education.
Hi Michelle - Welcome to ED 103! I agree that it's a good idea to vary your delivery to not only address the styles of your students but also, as you point out -"help them develop their skills in some of their weaker areas". Thanks for your post! Best wishes - Susan
i like to use different methods of teaching - our teaching is demo based so that works well for auditory and visual learners, they get to duplicate the demo so that works for the kinesthetic learners, and i give often research and extra credit papers at which our written learners excell.
I've found that the benefits for me as a instructor is understanding them better.to also be able to sence when extra help is needed.it also helps in a closer professional relationship with each student where they feel more confortable coming and talking with there instructor about anything that is a challenge to them.
Obviously, knowing the learning styles of my students helps me tailor the material to their preferences so that they are more likly to retain the information and apply it to their own area of expertise.
I have to remind myself of this every time I start a new class because I am often so used to working with the past group that I have the tendency to teach the new quarter to my old class--if I'm not careful. To overcome this tendency, I plan my first class period carefully in order to appeal to as many learning styles as possible.
Usually by the end of the second period, I know what learning styles the students prefer, but I still incorporate styles that aren't their favorites in order to vary the instruction and help them develop their skills in some of their weaker areas.
By knowing the students learning styles this will help me prepare for the type of lecture/demo info for the particular competency I am teaching for the day, wether it is through powerpoint or demo or participantion. It should help to make the outcome positive and clear.
