Knowing the learning styles challenges me as an instructor to present the material in various formats. I now will keep a power-point up while I am performing a demonstration and also assign a reading assignment on the same demonstration and power-point. Also, to keep the class interested I find that having a student "assistant" during a demo keeps the class interested, aware, and often times entertained.
Hi Elizabeth, I think that is an excellent strategy for any instructor to use. Being exposed to all delivery options is beneficial for students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Our classes are about 10 days long. Honestly, I have no time and it wouldn't be particularily effective for me to assess each student. So instead, I have lecture with powerpoint, use a textbook, have links or show videos in class, have discussions and scenarios, and we have a practical "hands-on" portion.
On the first day of class, I try to utilize all learning styles in an assignment or activity. I also have a first day form for each student describing each learning style and ask each student to select the style they feel more comfortable with.
Hi Stephen, Thanks for your post to the forum. You describe the ideal mix to address the learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
This can help one to prepare in a way that they feel will be the most beneficial to the whole of the class. Creating the best mix of Kinesthetic, audio and visual presentations. Incorporating the feedback and constantly tailoring to get better and better each class can only help the instructor.
By knowing the learning styles of your students you will be able to deliver course content that will meet each students individual needs. This is turn will allow for better absorption of material learned for each specific student.
It's important to realize that there will be students in our classes that have different types of learning styles. I take this into account when I am structuring my lectures. Understanding that there needs to at least be a balance of all four styles being projected through the lecture.
I find by taking the time to learn my students style of learning. I can change my delivery and get the lesson across
Hi Kola, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, it is always a good idea to vary our delivery to meet the diverse learning styles. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
One can approach the mode of course content delivery better when one knows the different learning styles of the students in the class. Rather than mere lectures, one would, for example, be able to use a combination of methods in order to get across to students in the class with different learning styles.
Customizing learning plans for students simplifies the way that information is translated to each individuals needs. Application elevates the skill set of an instructor by managing diversity in teaching methods.
it would benefit the instruction that meets each students learning skill.
Hi Gustavo, Thanks for sharing an excellent summary of the importance of teaching to the learning styles!
Susan Polick
Hi Gilbert, Thanks for your post to the forum. As an instructor of many general education courses, I agree that finding kinesthetic material to use can be difficult. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
knowing what avenues to understanding work for each person in class is helpful to get your point across to students and help them process and build on previous knowledge
Susan et al. – Hope all is well… Here are some of the reasons understanding and incorporating different learning styles is important. This approach as a whole is sometimes denoted as “differentiated instructionâ€. Developing an in-depth understanding of each learner style enables teachers to
1. Create a psychologically safe environment for every learner, as the style resonates with his(her) personality and learning mode.
2. Ease in determining each student's readiness for learning, as we present the materials the most appealing way.
3. Identify multiple access points to a topic and increases engagement and success.
4. Develop and demonstrate greater emotional intelligence in the classroom.
5. Demonstrates interest from the facilitator to support individual styles.
Regards
Yes, trying to cater to the different learning styles can be quite a challenge. I find that catering to the tactile learners can be especially difficult when teaching theory courses.
To help your students gather, perceive and process the information.
To use different methods of teaching to help all students.
