Teaching is a learning process as well.
By knowing the different learning styles of the students we can, as instructors, adapt our teaching syles to our audience and select the best assessment techniques for the class. It is almost like finding out what your customers want and need, and then delivering the product with the intention of achieving the learning objectives!
Based on learning style research, there is little statistical significance relating learning styles to student performance. However, based on neuroscience research, since 90% of the information processed by the brain is visual based, it is important to design visual components to add context to written material.
Hi Jolly -Welcome to ED 103! Of course as you point out, there are many subdivisions of styles and of course many people adapt to other styles. Still, the simpler division of styles as explained in this class covers the majority of students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career!
Hmmmm...given the research has identified over 70+ different learning/cognitive styles, generally organized into 13 categories with numerous tests required to identify them, and given a heterogeneous classroom, how can a teacher effectively identify all those learning styles and design instruction for them?
The research on VAK learning styles has revealed that
Hi Nancy- Welcome to ED 103! Helping your students to identify their own learning styles and then adjusting your delivery to adddress those styles does indeed show that you are concerned with their learning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career!
The VAK learning style test has very low reliability and validity scores. Also, research has indicated learning styles account for
First of all, it shows respect to your students that you are tailoring your instruction to each individual's needs. It sends the message that you care whether the student learns the material or not. Secondly, I feel it helps to build rapport with the students, in accommodating their individual learning styles. Also, since it does help the students to learn the material, why not use it? This helps me to be more effective, because I know I am actually reaching my students, not just rambling on in class. I use a combination of lecture, writing on the board, videos, and hands-on activities.
Hi Laurie- Welcome to ED 103! Your delivery is certainly covering all the bases - well done! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Tailoring delivery style and activities to a particular group of learners can make it more likely that they will stay engaged.
Because we are a vocational school for chefs and bakers, many of them lean toward a kinesthetic style, and I can definitely see them losing interest when I lecture for very long. I try to intersperse lecture with small group activities, media presentations, games and activities.
Hi Kurt - Welcome to ED 103! You mention some of the benefits of knowinging the learning styles of your students. It is obvious that it benefits our students, but as you point out, it makes teaching more enjoyable for us as well! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
To be more effective as an instructor, knowing your students learning style would be an immensely effective tool. Also identifying the learning styles of your students and trying to teach according to the four learning styles would make your job not only more rewarding, but also more fun. Last but certainly not least, the benefit to the student’s retention of the material is the ultimate goal.
As an Instructor at a tech. /voc. facility the primary focus on teaching is for students to successfully complete the required tasks as assigned. Since this involves mainly hands on assessment, it is centered on the more tactile learners. While this is important part of the primary focus in this type of institute, we must also accommodate the other 3 types of learners in order to see them succeed in completion of the tasks required in order to pass the course. I feel that it will absolutely be necessary to attempt teaching with all aspects of learning styles.
Hi Randall - Welcome to ED 103! I agree - good teachers are senstive to the needs of their students. At times I think we are part psychologist - trying to figure out where they are and how we can help them get to where they need to be. As you know it can be a rocky journey sometimes! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I can help each student attain and retain the information I am teaching. If I am sensitive to the needs of the student, I can then help them achieve their goals for the class.
R
Hi Daniel - Thanks for that information. i suspected that might be the case. That's why we work mightily to convince our tactile/visual folks that they have GOT to learn the soft skills also. Best wishes! Susan
Hi Anne - Welcome to ED 103. I completely agree! This is why ideally classroom assessment should consist of different types of assessment, not just written tests. Presentations, demonstrations, projects etc. can all be utilized. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career!
Susan
The benefit of knowing the learning styles of your students is that you are, in a way, translating the material into a languauge that they understand. The student will absorb the information more quickly when the instrucor presents it to him/her using the method that is most inuitive. By conforming to the learning style of the student, the instructor will have an easier time teaching and the student will have a more enjoyable experience.
I have found that many students don't always know what learning style they learn best from. Asking them in the first week of class if there is one thing that always helps them learn in a more productive manner doens't seem to give many results. Some students would test better if a test was read to them, but they have never had a test read to them, so how would they know? I think it is very important for us as instructors to look especially hard at the way the course is constructed, especially in how testing is accomplished. If there are only two tests, a mid term and a final, it can be very hard for students who have trouble testing to show what they have learned.
Knowing your students' learning styles may allow an instructor to make the necessary adjustments on the delivery of the informations to maximize the students' learning. Getting them engaged to a course and its objectives will fuel a purpose to attend and to perform well.
