Learning Styles
A lesson should touch every different learning style throughout the entire session. This will help to engage each student. Some students may seem to not be engaged, but when check point questions are asked, the student can answer the question. So are were they engaged or do they have a prior knowledge of the material?
Robert,
I believe every student should be given every opportunity to learn, and because we have expert knowledge, we should be willing to spend more time when students struggle with concepts or class material. At some point we can assist just so far, and accountability by the student needs to take over. But we can rest in that we truely did all we could, short of just artificially awarding a grade that was not legitimately earned.
Barry Westling
llowing them to "fail safely" is key.
Some students have never "failed" due to hover parents and our feel good society.
Allowing them to fail safely goes a long way in learning from their mistakes.
Trinity,
I too have used learning styles. I record the general impressions but I feel the biggest benefit is to the student who can potentially use the information to assist in their personal studies.
Barry Westling
In some classes, I have had them take a quick test to discover their learning styles. It is informative to the student as well as the teacher. It helps me to meet their needs, and they learn how they might adapt as learners.
I think we usually gravitate toward our own style of learning, but it important to relate to our students' styles.
Brian,
I believe utimately all students have to learn skills by practice, which may include errors, coaching, and repeating until the skill is mastered. In general, doing will always enhance learning, particulary true for skill development.
Barry Westling
For what I teach it is all hand and eye cordination for most part. It is up to the individual to grasp the welding concept. All of my demos are visual and then students try to replicate the weld.
Ashpreet,
The more individualized we can make our instruction, the more students will benefit overall. It does take some planning, and time, and effort. But I look at it as that's what they pay me to do.
Barry Westling
Ashpreet,
I agree there is benefit in stories, which can include past situations (good and bad), unusual circumstances, job tips, and illustrations that convey the importance of learning the course material.
Barry Westling
I agree most ofmy students fall under this category. I have a student with a learning disability and she shared with me that when she memorizes drug names, brand to generic its helps her remember with random pictures on a flashcard. It is hard to meet everyone standards and learning styles but it is possible.
Students love stories! I enjoy telling my students stories from when I was in the field. WHhen I notice that lecture is a bit long and dry I implement many stories. Students tend to like more of the situational stories. I enjoy seeing all their faces when I tell them my story about the time a customer chucked a pen at my face because it was red and she did not use red to write. I always have them apply what they would have done. This gets them back into the thinking mode and eager to apply because it hits home. No one wants to be disrespected or mistreated.
Margaret,
I find students always like stories, and if I need to capture attention, a work story, past situation, or illustration will bring all attention to me. Then I can get back to what I was focusing on.
Barry Westling
I agree with Reza real life examples and situations relly makes it interesting not only for the students but the class itself. I work in the medical field and I teach alot of medical subjects so by my giving the students scenrios and real life situations they are interested to learn more.
Margaret Clarke
Jayne,
It's great when instructors can relate to the individuality of each of their students. This student-centered learning nearly always produces better student learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
I like using a varienty of learning styes in my class because they are all different you may have a class of all differnt learning styles and we as instrctors have to be able to reach each one in different ways
Reza ,
I've found students like stories. Nearly every time I've encountered students feeling a little bit distracted or disinterested, sharing a story about some past experience, situation, or circumstances involving the work setting seems to captre attention. I remember the "What's in it for me" thepory, and if students can imagine themselves in these situations, it makes for a more interesting class session.
Barry Westling
When I feel students are frustrated listening to me I change the style to visual, I draw a picture or show a video. Also sometimes I give them examples and stories from real application of the knowledge they are learning, it attracts their attention back to subject.
Kimberly,
I think most people are visual and auditory learners as the dominant style, but probably all have a mix of styles. So adding variety does help touch each student in their learning process.
Barry Westling
