learning styles
Course content and learning styles have to be mangaged for all of the students to get the most from the material. when the content is to difficult for some students it might have to be presented a little differently for them to really grasp it.
I've been an instructor for a year now,and working with different learnig styles has been challenging and fun. I try to keep every body as tuned in as possible.
Hi Dahlia:
Very true - we should be concerned with teaching for visual learners, audio learners, and kinesthetic types as well.
Regards, Barry
Hi Catherine:
Most instructors agree that teaching styles that use different styles to hit every learning style is what is most effective.
The three learning styles we often refer to are visual, audio, and kinesthetic.
Regards, Barry
Hi Marlene,
Using multiple styles to reach all learning styles is an excellent way of facilitating the learning process. Most modern studies into learning methods agree that instruction styles targeting visual, audio, and kinesthetic types of learners, or a combination of these styles works best.
Regards,
Barry
Students to learn differently. it is preferable to use different techniques to assist in the different learning styles of the students.
Hi Michele:
You're doing great with the variety - which makes learning fun, enjoyable, and memorable. Variety also keeps students attention better.
Regards, Barry
I like to engage several different methods of learning in my class so that I can capture different types of learning styles. I use audio files, where the students have to listen and repeat words. I use computer programs for my tactile learnings as well as papers that need to be completed. I lecture and I have the students engage in lecture as well, meaning they all have a subject matter in which they are responsible for. That way they learn from each other too.
It is important to instruct meeting the needs of all different learning styles. It's also important to assess your students to ensure that you are meeting all of their learning style needs.
I employ the same strategy. I find that incorporating creative methods that reach all learning styles accomplishes successful learing.
Hi Roger:
As the subject matter experts, we have to be in ontrol of the overall experience. That's not to say we can't facilitate student-led activities under our guidance.
Giving expectations at the beginning tends to avoid arguments later on.
Regards, Barry
I agree that the instructor's expectations drive the course, regardless of student personalities and educational experiences.
I develop my expectations into a contract that each student signs during the first class. If there are any questions about the standards I refer them back to the contract.
I also try to intermix different instructional styles and techniques but it's not for different learning styles. I do this as a way to break up the class routine.
Roger
Hi Kodee:
Learning style assessment can be helpful in getting to know something about your students. And I think it's fun for students to learn something about themselves they may not have known or appreciated before.
Better teachers will take their students learning styles and try to integrate daily class activities around learning styles that will benefit their students.
Diversity in the ways students learn can be an advantage if approached correctly. For instance, students can help each other by explaining things based on the way they learned it. Grouop discussion is one way to accomplish this. Class Q&A is another.
Regards, Barry
I like to give a short little assessment so students can find out thier own learning styles it's fun for them and gives them some info for the future
Hi Yvonne:
Actually I think everyone has a mixture of learning styles, some refer to these as "multiple intellengences". Often one or two are more dominant.
One way to reach a variety of individuals with mutiple styles is attact the students to the teacher, and the deliver the presentation with great sincerity, honesty, and genuine care. If this is done in the teachers natural manner and done in a calm and relaxed fashion, students of all learning styles are bound to lend their attention and focus, thus reaching more students and improving their learning.
Regards, Barry
I have noticed through the course of my teaching career that class differ in their learning ability. I have several different teaching techniques for my classes because of this issue.
Hi Joshua:
Except in rare cases of extrememly small classes (2-4), teaching to a variety of learning styles can be challenging.
One way to manage some of that challege is provide a delivery style that is sincere and honest, and presented by the teacher in their natural personality.
Even students who learn by different methods and styles can realte to these basic tenets of human communication, and I think help reach more students overall.
Regards, Barry
I agree, knowing the classes we teach is a huge part of our success or failure as educators. Even something as simple as changing a group activity to a class-wide activity might play to the strengths of different cohorts.
Hi Christin:
You point out an important distinction beteween learning style, teaching style, and expectations.
Many Gen-x'ers feel very entitled and need spoonfeeding. Of course you have baby boomers who consider school like work. That's the real challenge in dealing with diverse groups.
I think the common thread is defining your expectations for the class, then modeling and connecting with you class diversity as best you can. But your expectations will be the one constant.
Regards, Barry
Getting to know the class & which learning style works well for the particular group I find in important. Some classes are stronger & will work together for the whole class to have sucess!I have taught other ones that only care about themselves & are very distant. I constantly must change the style to reach the groups, I ask myself sometimes when teaching the same course over again-did this group sign up of a full moon??? Because I must cater to all the diffrent needs of the students.
