It's clear to me that instructional benefit of varying delivery methods, lies in overall reach and seating of the material. It seems that if you can touch on all four major styles, the information is much more likely to stick in everyone's brain. That's really the goal, isn't it?
It is helpful to ensure each student is receiving the info the way it best suits their learning ability.
Hi Allen, Thanks for your post to the forum. Absolutely, adjusting our delivery to reach the learning styles of our students is always a winning strategy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Knowing my students learning styles gives me the opportunity to present the information in a way the student will pick up and retain that information more effectively makeing the class more succesfull,and make the student feel good about thier experiance.
You can better tailor your objectives so that each student has a chance to use their learning style.
Knowing the learning styles helps you plan a good approach for the given subject matter. It allows you to create a task easier, or modify your discussions to the learning style of your class.This allows you have a balance for your students, so you don't lose their focus. This can happen when you only teach to one style of learning.
Hi Migdalia, For me it is the opposite- I am a visual learner and have to "stretch" to use kinesthetic activities in my instruction. Best wishes! Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Stacey, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, exactly - we need to do whatever we can to help our students be successful! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
It's good for me because I might be able to know they learn. This will help me to grow as an instructor. I am not a visual learner. I am a hands on learner. So if I could learn different learning styles for myself, it would be easier for me to teach in the different styles.
Hi Allen, Thanks for your post to the forum. You mention that students may complete activities like research more effectively if they can do so using the style they prefer - good point! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
We as instructors need to know how our students learn. We need to make this effort so we can help make them successful when they graduate.
I do not think it takes an instructor very long to "learn" the learning styles of his or her students. Once this learning style is established, it may or may not be the preferred method of the instructor. If not, this is a great opportunity for the instructor to step out of their comfort zone and learn and grow as an instructor. After all, it is all about the students :)
By using all learning styles while lecturing I am reaching all of the students in the class. I write on the board, I lecture, and I use fill in power points.
Identifying the different learning styles allows the instructor to present,and give recommendations of various media sources for the students to be able to research information that best suits thier individual style
Hi James, Thanks for your post to the forum. Absolutely - the time and effort it takes to assess student learning styles and prepare diverse delivery options, has big payoffs in the long run. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
The instructional benefits are you can deliver the material in a fashion optimal for learning. If you understand how best your students learn and retain the information you not only are doing your job better but also more efficient in the long run. You will have higher outcomes and achieve great student successs. If you assess the students and plan instructional delivery based on upon your learning style results you will reduce the amount of class time necessary to re-explain or answer student questions. You can continue delivering material without slowing down or repeating the same information.
Hi MIRIAM, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using a great mix of delivery techniques! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Yonne,Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, when instructors make the effort to deliver to all the learning styles they will often realize that there may be a style that they have nver really taught to. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I like to start off a new class with a Learning Style questionair. The students answer the questions and score themselves. Most of the students are pleasently surprise to find out that they learn through more then just one technique. It is important to switch up your teaching techniques everyday and about every 30 minutes. By using Lectures, power points, text books, games, guest speakers and demonstrations. We can keep learning fresh and interesting.
Basically, the goal of teaching is to make sure the students are learning. By knowing the learning styles of my students I can maximize this goal.
