In order for the student to achieve the optimum outcome, the instructor must understand what style best motivates the student. Since all students learn in their own unique manner, its important for the instructor to incorporate more than one learning style during the course.
By supporting the learning styles of the entire class you can effectively base your curriculum for all to understand, benefit from and feel successful
Mariann Urbancsik, BSRN
If we only teach to one style or teach how we prefer to learn we will lose a majority of our students. Teaching styles as well as curriculum needs to address these different styles. If we as instructors acknowledge that there are 4 main styles of learning we can then understand why some students struggle.
It is important so the instructor can understand each student. Just like the students the instructors have to do their own research to help the students get the most out of each lecture. Just teaching in one learning style may not reach each student. Knowing how to teach in different styles just may help struggling students.
All students acquire knowledge in different ways. It's unfair to expect all students to succeed using only one teaching style, lecture for example. As instructors, our success is measured in terms of our students success. We need to provide whatever resources and techniques the students require to be successful.
Hi Scott, I love that analogy - thanks for sharing! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Karen, Thanks for your post to the forum. Your approach to teaching and the learning styles is very effective! I especially like that you explain the relevance of your assignments. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
A great presentation is like going to an all you can eat buffet. There is something appetizing for everyone and if it is well prepared the students will keep coming back for more.
I agree: it can be very challenging and sometimes impossible to accommodate all learning styles (and ability levels) in a classroom of 20-30 students. My approach has been to use the various techniques that reach different styles to provide instruction, and vary the course assignment to provide opportunities for the students to shine using their strengths. It is good to "stretch" students by acknowledging that a particular assignment or topic may be more challenging, but that it will benefit them because...and then give them a concrete example of when they will have to perform on the job using that particular skill.
It is important to provide approaches and resources that compliment learning styles because every student learns differently. The four main learning styles are Audio, Written, Visual and Kinestetic.
Learning the learning style of our students helps us to keep them engaged. By introducing varied teaching methods more students will be actively involved.
By finding out the learning style of your class, you can create activities and ways of imparting information that will be more easy for them to grasp. If you are exclusively lecturing to a group that is largely composed of tactile learners, they are probably going to find your class difficult and not very enjoyable, and before long this will reflect in grades and attendance. The more you can tailor the learning experience to the way that they learn best, the more they will get from the class.
It is important to reach out to all students; that they be given information in a manner that is interesting and useable.
Knowing students learning styles help the facilitator understand how students process information. Students from different cultural background assimilate knowledge the same way as their American counterpart? Is there a particular learning style assessment that will help me identify the differences? I am in love with this subject :)
Hi Rita, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that we need to be creative to effectively reach all the learning styles, but it keeps us from getting bored or stale. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Supporting the learning styles of my students makes me a better instructor. I have to get creative to reach all the learners in innovative ways while meeting the course learning objectives.
Hi Michael,Thanks for your post to the forum. That is the important thing about teaching to the learning styles - it does optimize our efforts! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I teach an accelerated class and if I am not cognizant of how my students learn, I will leave students behind and they may never catch up.
It is important to match the learning style of your students. Only by taking the time to know your students' styles can you maximize your time with the students and optimize your efforts
Hi Jeff, Thanks for your post to the forum. Great comments - especially how this relates to the workplace!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
