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Hi Steve! Outstanding! Observing and being sensitive to diverse learning styles, then adpating instructional delivery and assessments accordingly are crucial skills for the adult educator to possess.

I once gave a forced-choice test (true/false and multiple choice) where in certain questions more than one answer could apply. Students were to choose the best answer in each case. (This, of course, was a content assessment and not a lab activity or procedure). The next class period, without handing back the test, I divided the class into learning groups and handed each group the same blank test. Each group then discussed the answer options and members used their own responses (they had to remember them)to collaborate on a consensus. Each group then handed in the one completed test copy as a team result.

If a student scored higher on his/her individual test, that grade was assigned, but if the group score was higher, then the student's score was a combination of 60% group score and 40% individual score.

The activity was completely engaging because every student had a personal stake in the outcome. In all learning groups but one, the team score was higher.

I had several students say that they learned more about the information through discussing the answers, justifying their own responses, seeing other viewpoints and coming to a consensus than they did from actually taking the test. It took some time and I couldn't do it every time, but what a result! And it hopefully touched on visual, auditory and even hands-on (coming to a team decision)learning modes.

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