Knowing the learning styles of the students provides helpful information which aids the instructor in developing a learning environment that is conducive to all the students.
The instructional benefits of utilizing and knowing the different learning styles for my students is that it helps when I am preparing lesson plans, objectives, and goals for the different courses that I teach. In addition, it helps me determine the best approach to use when I am presenting new materials to my students. Thereby, I am better prepared for class. It also helps me find easier and fun ways of presenting the material which helps to keep the students interested in the different courses. Not to mention, the students benefits because they understand the material better.
Hi Amer - Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree completely - we have to be able to adapt to the learning styles of our students and students do appreciate that. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
As indicated in the module, students are not all the same. Information is grasped in different ways, and being able to switch between the different instructional learning styles will ensure that the instructor can cater to all the students. Showing your students that you can cater to their learning differences will certainly make them develop confidence in you as the instructor.
Hi Shelly- Thanks for your post to the forum. It is interesting though, how so many students have never really thought about how they learn best.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Pamela - Thanks for your post to the forum. You gave a great description of an open discussion with your students which is an excellent tool. Why must we just lecture all the time?? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Anthony- Thanks for your post to the forum. As with any performance, the "First Act" often sets the tone for the rest of the play, so as you point out, we need to make a great impression from the start. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Knowing the learning styles of my students helps me to deliver information that appeals to each type of learner. That is a question that I ask each student on the first day of class and then I work with those styles durnig the course.
helps you to cater to each indivedual student. This increases the succes rate of the students in your course
I belive it can happen that a particular student may dread an upcoming class. He or she may not feel that it will be a rewarding experience before the start. If the first couple of lessons/exercises/practicals can be designed toward their preferred style, that student might be won over. The anxity may be lessoned.
Knowing the leaning styles of your students and creating a method of presenting the class material in a structed but different style increases the attention span of the students' and their internalized thoughts of classroom non-ending structure. It is simular to taking a field-trip at the spur of the minutes, just refreshing and delighted for the adventure.
I have some of my lecture classes with just conversations and questions to the class about the subject matter and create forums/discussions and question and answer sessions just to hear what the students understanding of the subject is; for the student to expand on their understanding of the subject matter; for the student to phrase what they have learned in their own words and for other students who did not respond to this type of discussion to be able to hear other students opinion expressed and this gives that student an opinions/thoughts about the classroom material and further development may occur within them and their understanding of what is being taught to them.
From knowing the learning styles of your students, you as the Instructor can informationally reach all of your students and gain their attention of what is being presented by presenting the information in more than one form. I truely believe that it is when a student-learner is not being reached/interested and/or absorbing the information, that is when the classroom anti-social acts occur and conversations form between the students that are distracting to the objective and to those who are 'getting' the information.
But when a lecture reaches all or even most of the students in that class, the student-learners are interested in the lecture, active mental participation and interests are peaked - thus actual subjective learning happens with understanding of the subject matter and classroom distraction (s) decrease.
The instructional benefits of knowing the learning styles of our students are that we can be more effective as instructors if we know the means which is optimal for each to absorb new information. We can be more effective with this knowledge too because then we can taylor our instructional materials to best suit all class members.
Knowing the learning styles of your students promtoes accurate learning
Knowing the learning styles of your Students increase effective learning, keep Students focus and is agreat guide for the instrutor.
There are many instructional benefits of knowing the learning styles of your students. Every student perceives and processes information differently. Knowing how each individual in the class learns, you can then taylor the delivery of your content to meet the learning styles of all.
On the first day of class, I distibute a Learning Styles Inventory in which students take the time to find out how they best perceive and process information. We discuss each of the different learning styles and how they need to be aware of their own styles to help them better succeed in the classroom environment.
I make sure that I use handouts, write notes on the board, use powerpoint presentions, coduct individual class activities, as well as incorporate group work activities. I am constantly changing up the way I teach material to my students so that no student gets left behind in comprehending course content.
I can better plan my resources for lectures, to accommodate my students. I am teaching in a program that requires both hands on instruction and student practice as well as lecture time. I try to use the resource materials presented to me with the text books and my program resources. How much of which I use depends on the number of students in each learning category. I want them to retain as much as possible so being able to best know how to instruct them effectively makes everyone happy and creates a positive environment where they are now self motivated to WANT to learn more and might actively seek out additional information on their own.
Hi John - Yes, especially in short classes, it can be difficult to determine each student's learning style. For that reason it makes sense to just try to use a mix of styles in your delivery. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Makes it more intereting for me and for my students
Thaddeus,
I agree with you that it would be nice personalizing the learning to each student. I currently teach in a program which meets twice a week for four hours per night, for five weeks. I have thought about ways to check on student's learning styles but just don't have the time. This first module has shown the importance of implementing as many of the learning styles as possible as it will reach more students.
