Teaching to Learning Styles
What are the diffrents styles of learning?
Hi Timothy,
This is a good way to identify their learning preferences so you can target their learning pathways. This leads to more involvement and increased retention.
Gary
I also encourage students to think about how they enjoy taking in information - do they read newspapers or prefer to listen to the news on the radio? Once they are thinking about how they prefer to encounter information, I encourage them to find ways to take in class information that same way. I remind them that they have a responsibility to find the ways that the learn best and to share them with me as the instructor. I can then make choices about how I deliver content.
Hi Susan,
I have found that using various teaching methods provides an opportunity for all students to learn. It also allows me to observe what seems to work best for specific students. With that knowledge in hand, I am able to work with students outside of normal class hours to devise alternative methods for them to obtain and comprehend course material.
Hi Susan,
It is fine to ask adults how they perceive their learning being most effective in relation to how the content is delivered. By offering instruction in different formats the students can work in their learning preference and acquire the content with confidence.
Gary
I understand the basic of different learning styles. My concern is detecting which student does best with which method in order to reach them all in the most efficient manner. Any suggestions? Is it appropriate to ask adults what they perceive to be their best method of learning?
Hi Denise,
There a a number of different categories of learning preferences but they can be put into four major areas.
Visual--students prefer to learn by seeing pictures or objects.
Auditory--students prefer to learn by listening to instruction and information.
Written word--students prefer to learn by reading.
Tactile--students prefer to learn by doing things. Holding, grasping and investigating objects or motions.
In ED 103 there is a module that outlines these learning styles and gives examples of how you develop content within these areas.
Gary
