I try to change the approach every 10 minutes. Students were raised on MTV rapid editing- so the style and the task need to be different all the time- not to be boring.
Hi Gail, Thanks for your post to the forum. Teaching to the learning styles is also a very positive experience for instructors. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I feel this is important because as an instructor you want to set your student's up for success. So providing different approaches and resources will help to ensure your students are leaving with the information that they need to be succesful in their career's
It is important as students retain information better when they are taught in their preffered style. This also helps prevent the lecture from being monotonous.
Different students have different styles of learning. While it is easier to stand up and teach the old fashion way, it has now become more important to reach the majority of students in ways that complement their style of learning. If we don't attempt new styles we loose the interest and ultimately the student from the learning process
It is very important to know your students' learning styles how you can support those style. you can create your own style or combine style to get a better result.
Hi Lydia, Thanks for your post to the forum. You mention an important consideration - our students will be encountering diverse learning styles throughout their lives. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Jessica, That is indeed a diverse classroom! I find that although there may initially be an "adjustment period", my classes with mixed age ranges generally begin to learn from each other!
Susan Polick
It's important to provide approaches and resources that complement the learning styles of my students because students learn differntly: visual, auditory, tactile and cognitive. Also, we are preparing the student for the real world where they will encounter people from varies learning styles. I need to use all learning style. I need to read it, hear it, think about it, hear and read it again and do hands-on.
My students range in age from 18 to 50. I have to adjust my teaching styles in order to get the information through to all of them. I have an advantage since most of mine are lab classes. I use lecture, vivual aides, demonstration and return demonstration to accomplish this.
By supporting the differing learning styles of the students they have a better chance of understanding and retaining the new information. Utilizing different approaches will help to encompass all of the learning styles providing a well rounded experience and education for the students.
Hi Nicole, Thanks for your post to the forum and a reminder that learning should continue beyond our classrooms. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
HI Robin, Thanks for sharing a good summary of the impact of teaching to the learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Students are sometimes given a lot of information in the classroom. If we provide them with resources, whether online or in books, that they can access outside of the classroom, they can continue to learn the material. Additional approaches, such as hands on, will only reinforce what we have taught them with a textbook or lecture.
Why is it important to provide approaches and resources that complement the learning styles of your students?
MY ANSWER: They will be more receptive to the material and more than likely to retain it (or at least more of it) than using a learning style that does not complement them. Creatively supporting those students (such as showing videos in class to appeal to those visual students) gives them some variety and makes the class more interesting.
I myself am a visual learner and did not do great grade wise in school, so i can appreciate the approach of using different styles of teachibg.
I have started to compile my own data bank of pictures to use during lectures to illustrate my points.
Hi Kimberly, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using an excellent mix of delivery formats! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Several reasons become apparent in supporting all learning styles in your classroom.
First is the students. in my class we do lecture/discussion while referencing the text or handouts that the students are working from. This gives both the visual and the auditory learners a grasp on the information within their learning style.
Second, we take a break after every hour of classroom discussion to ensure movement and have at least 1 hour of lab time that consists of practical, hands-on application. this compliments the kinesthetic learners.
There are videos that are shown and diagrams to help illustrate certain points as well. This uses visual, auditory, and correct movement in the procedures being taught.
Using these factors with every lesson ensures the success of all learners to process information in a way that will help them recall and apply it, rather than to regurgitate it short term for an exam.
This makes the teacher a better guide in the classroom.
Kim
Hi Tamika, Thanks for your post to the forum. Great, creative, active learning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I agree. In my class, everyone has a task. Usually, there are team captains that help delegate tasks. When we have certain group activities. I like to incorporate Shark Tank(the show) activity. Students are set up in teams, provided with an imaginery budget and have to market or use their best sales pitch why I should invest in their medical facility. They can be as creative as they would like.
