This is interesting. What sorts of projects did you do that might have taken the place of and enhanced lectures?
It is important to provide approaches and resources that complement the learning styles to assist the student in learning. By providing a variety of approaches, the instructor better serves all students in their different learning styles.
I currently have a class in which I surveyed their learning styles on the first day of class. I was surprised to learn that 70% of the class had a kinesthetic style of learning preference. I rearranged the lesson plan for the remainder of the quarter to include more hands-on projects which caused the majority of the students to thrive with this type of learning environment. At the same time, I left in other things like lectures, reading assignments, Power Points, and other things that would include the entire class structure. Often the same material is presented in different ways to enhance the learning and retention process.
This also helps the student in developing their critical thinking skills, develop appropriate study habits, and the application of knowledge and/or skills learned.
In planning delivery of a lesson, an instructor can look at incorporating the learning styles into the lesson. The idea is to provide varied means of delivering information to varying learning styles. For instance, if you are using a PowerPoint, pass out the notes pages to it. Add in experiential activities, where students can manipulate objects, and problem-solve.
Hi Debi - If only we could have more online instructors like you! No doubt that teaching online is challenging, but you are doing a great job of giving your students feedback that is positive and helps them build their skills. Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I feel it important to support various styles of learning and student/teacher communication. I teach only Online. With this delivery there is a greater percentage of reading and writing that the Online student must use for receiving the lessons and for communicating with the instructor and fellow classmates. I do provide a phone number for students to leave me a verbal message. They do not have to have access to their e-mail 24/7 to reach me. I am very pleased with my Online Accounting Class that I teach as it has Powerpoint presentations and Videos that match the material and examples in the text. I make a point of reminding students that these audio resources are available. Some of the student assignments are completed in a Lab which gives them immediate feedback on their work.
The Online classroom does rely on the student being willing to tell a teacher (that they cannot see) that they need help. I work very hard at reading between the lines of my student's (written via e-mail) questions and requests for help. It is there that I can assess what their learning style is and that I may need to direct them to the alternative learning resources we have available.
I don't know if this is part of a student's learning style, but whenever I am providing students' feedback on assignments, discussions or special projects, I make a point to first say something positive about their work and their effort. I will then give them detail on items that need correction. I never simply provide an answer sheet and expect them to find their errors on their own. My feedback is my opportunity to give them support and direction (including recognition of their learning style). But unfortunately in the Online environment my feedback is almost always in written form.
Debi Makidon
MN School of Business/Globe University
It will accurately assess their knowledge and make them successful.
Hi Tammie- Thanks for your post to the forum. No matter how long we teach, keeping students on topic is an eternal challenge! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It is important to cover as many learning styles as you can so you don't have a student feeling lost and then maybe thinking that school is too hard for them and then they might want to leave and then that would hurt your retention
Teaching adult students is a challenge in itself. I have only been teaching 1 1/2 years and I am still trying to develop approaches to keep my students on topic, that is my toughest challenge.
Each student learns differntly....Although all students can learn from all 4 approaches, everyone has a preference on how they best learn new things. It is important to cater to the individual because you will get better results, and the student will be happier with their progress. Usually when a student is doing well, learning, they want to keep learning.
I think it would help with retention rates and better outcomes in terms of grades and student's ability to remember and/or apply the information they have learned. The information is very useful. I am thinking of new ways to get our educators involved in these processes. Thank for asking. Angela Suarez - Director of HealthCare Education at National College, Louisville.
Hi Timothy- Thanks for your post to the forum. I could not have said it any better! You clearly are committed to reaching the learning styles of your students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Providing approaches and resources that complement the learning styles of students is as important as having the correct sequence of number for opening a safe or having the correct key for opening a lock. Different students learn best with different styles and any educator interested in wide-ranging success among these students should have at hand before the course begins a variety of choices for course content delivery. While it is impractical to expect that each student will have a different delivery expectation of class assignments teachers should nonetheless be ready to intervene in the case of students who are flagging or faltering because a learning style is not working out.
Students are more receptive when they are considered on the "buy in". An open learner will identify, depending on the topic, which learning style best fits their learning needs.
I thhink this is important to appeal to all types of learners...you must be presenting your info in a fair manner ...so all have the ability to learn
Hi Dena- Thanks for your post to the forum. You have addressed numerous issues that we covered in this class and are doing a great job at teaching to the learning styles and using good questioning techniques. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It's important to support the learning styles of your students, because every student is uniquely different and you want them to learn, understand,and be able to apply what they have learned.
Set aside class time for summarizing and processing. Assist students in finding a style that works for their individual learning styles. Help student to evaluate and self assist them in finding their learning styles. You can self assess with check list etc... They can then evaluate errors amd make self adjustments.Always allow a wait and think time for your questions, the answers and comments.
Hi Mitchell- Thanks for your post to the forum. Sounds like it's a good thing that your students have to listen to you because you are teaching to all the learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In order to be the most effective, a teacher needs to reach out to the four learning styles and teach accordingly. In this way, all 4 learning styles are addressed, and the class will benefit as a result.
