When giving a lecture, I feel it is important to use a combination of learning styles, as this insures that every students benefits. Some students have multiple styles of learning so using a combination hits them all.
As an instructor, understanding that each individual receives and processes material differently forces you to be more mindful of delivering information in various ways. I teach at a culinary school and try to cover all bases by lecturing, demonstrating, and having students complete tasks to guide and enforce their learning.
The instructional benefits of knowing the different learning styles of the students is that you can reach each one on their terms. If I was teaching using a completley visual method and the bulk of my students were tactile learners, I would not really be dong them any good. By knowing each student's style, I can tailor my teaching to reach the majority of them for the majority of the time.
Knowing the learning style of the person or people you are teaching will always benefit both parties. It will always make the class more productive and make the learning environment better for the whole class.
Great point. I have the opportunity to get learners at the end of the program and it offers them the chance to apply all the previous classes in a practical scenario. The ones that do not retain the information, the ones that only learned what they needed to pass classes are at a disadvantage. If a specific class is consistently having a problem in recalling information that class is invited to observe the latter classes. They take the classes more seriously after their observations because they see the application. It seems to work pretty well especially for the tactile and visual learners
The learning styles represent each student and how he/she needs to interpret the material. By reading the students by their learning style I will be able to deliver their training in a way they they will retain and not just memorize. Back in the day the teacher blamed the student for their inability to learn/retain. In this day and age we except and own the responsability in delivering the material to fit their needs parallel to their learning style.
Hi DJ- Welcome to ED 103! You are clearly an empathetic instructor. You have honed in on an important idea - "You have to reach them before you can teach them"! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
The benefits are tremendous. Once you know the learning style, if special asstistance is needed for the student, the solution(s) can be presented in the appropriate learning style. Each individual is different, what works for one may not work for the other, so for most of my important information pieces that I teach, I already have prepared responses for each learning style. This makes you a better prepared instructor that can provide guidance to struggling students. You have to reach them before you can teach them.
I can better keep them engaged and interested in the class. If they're interested in the instruction, and paying attention to it, then it is easier for me to see if they are understanding me, and easier for me to know that they are ready to apply the knowledge and, to be assessed on in later.
Hi Kurt- You are certainly teaching to all the learning styles and because you use that variety of techniques on a daily basis, your students get the benefit of all the delivery styles. Best wishes! Susan
in my class I try to use all syles.
in the morning we start with lecture to include visual aids, then step into web based learning then finally finish up with hands on training.
kurt saverien
Varying the learning styles targeted by an instructor can help students learn more effectively. It also helps the instructor to present a varied and interesting class. When only one style is used classes can fall into a routine that may be very boring to some students.
Hi Ernest- Adjusting your delivery as you get to know your students is ideal! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Knowing and understanding the learning styles of our students will help the absorb the material quicker, lessen frustration level which will also help in retention.
The benefits helps you teach the class smoothly and that the students get value out of the class. The knowledge I received will help me with teaching style.
As an instructor at a vocational school for chef, I tend to use both the visual and kinesthetic learning styles for the first few classes. As I become more familiar with my students and their learning styles. I can begin to adjust my lessens plans to cater to the different styles of learning that I might have in my class.
Hi Daniel - welcome to ED 103! Your delivery is definitely addressing all the learning styles - Well done! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
It’s obvious to me that the only way to get started learning the different learning styles is to look at learners reactions to the different styles when demonstrated in class. My goal as an instructor is to help as many students retain as much information as possible, so that they feel confident with their abilities.
One method I use, is in the first few days, I lecture from notes which helps me recognize the written learners, the ones taking notes. The next I present a power point lecture that has specific page numbers from the text listed on each slide to appeal to both the visual and written learners. Then I ask for the class to act out the material through role-play to meet the kinesthetic learners. If I can do this consistently I find that each group learns other styles of learning by being able to participate in each teaching style. This also gives me a chance to see how each learner thinks and has resulted in me constantly reworking how I present the material to the next class taking into consideraton the specific learning styles.
The benefit of knowing you students learning styles is to translate the materials to them in a more effect way. The students will grasp the material faster making your learning outcomes better. This will also help me in my student retention as well as being a more effective instructor.
Hi Cahrles - you are so correct! And not only does it make it more interesting for students, adding variety in delivery keeps things fresh for our instructors. Best wishes - Susan
