Hello Ms. Polick,
It is important to provide approaches and resources that complement the learning styles of our students due to the fact that we want to engage all learners. By engaging all learners, we meet the needs of our learners, as they actively interact with the course and with each other. I will explain how I try to engage others in the class discussion.
I am in online education and meeting the needs of my diverse learners can present a challenge, since many of them come from many different backgrounds, from not being in school for a long time (so perhaps their learning style has changed, or progressed, as I like to say). In my discussions, or announcements I introduce videos (from YouTube or library websites) so this may assist visual learners and auditory learners as well. I also include scholarly articles within the discussion, sometimes to support a popular opinion or introduce current research. This prompts students to look at the article and provide feedback; thus, stimulating a conversation on the topic of the article. It's always gratifying to see that develop!
Our learners, or scholars, look to us as facilitators, and by definition, it is important to guide our students in the appropriate direction, and since research has proven from the introduction, it has become a necessity to seek new ways to deliver information to meet the needs of our learners (scholars).
Cheers
Su Somnarain
People have a preferred learning style that enable them to comprehend and retain the material most efficiently and effectively. I try to vary my approach to teaching and use resources that hopefully engage the students who are not auditory learners. My lectures incorporate discussion, power points, videos and hands on demos. However, the biggest challenge I face is the student's retention of material especially beyond the term, weeks or months later. It is one thing for them to be engaged at the moment and comprehend what I am teaching, but don't they still need to reinforce the material by repetition? Given time restraints in the classroom with the amount of material that is covered in my course, studying efficiently and effectively outside the classroom is extremely important and where we seem to have the biggest challenge in our program.
Providing a dynamic methodology for addressing various students learning styles provides: 10 students a chance to feel intergrated into the learning process, 2) supports a working relationship b/w student & instructor, 3) equips the student with a "voice" that can be heard via classroom participation since he/ she can respond to questions that have been modified for him/ her to comprehend via their learning style.
Hi Blanche, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, students do appreciate when we make an effort to match our delivery to their learning styles. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
The Institute where I teach ,there are new student every term in which gives me plenty of opportunity to place in action the individual learning skills. Actually I find that each student has at leaset 2 or more of the learning styles which makes it easier for me to present in all the styles sometimes at once. I love to see when the student see that I am excited in giving the information to them. I have found that when giving different options or stlyes for delivering the information enhances their ability to study well.
Hi Jeff, That is it exactly!! It's a win-win for students and faculty! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
The students will retain more information and will will reach more students
As was mentioned, each student has a different way of grasping the material. Their style makes it easier for them to understand what is presented. You increase their chances, and yours, of success if you can discover that style and deliver the content in a format that is best for it.
Instruct them using different methods
Hi Robert, Thanks for your post to the forum. I love seeing the "Light bulb" when students see how they can improve their study skills by understanding their learning styles. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
It is important to include all learning styles to not only teach students, but to provide an effective learning environment and engage them.
It add value to the learning experience and if a student wasn't aware of the resources and approaches that compliement their style of learning they now are and have a new tool in their educational tool box.
Robert Castagna
It is important to provide learning experiences for the learning styles of your students so that they all can receive new information and retain it.
It will make it much easier for them to grasp the information that you are trying to teach.
Hi Sara, Thanks for your post to the forum. The more active our classrooms are the more engaged our students will be. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I totally agree with you. In any and everything that my students participate in, it gives them a since of pride and accomplishment also. I love to have contests and games with the students. They learn from each other also.
Hi Bethanne, Thanks for your post to the forum. You have excellent teaching strategies!! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
It is important because it helps them be successful. I teach in a clinical setting (hospital). The students generally are so nervous on the first day, that I am sure they are not "hearing" everything I am introducing at that point. I let the environment settle in with them for the first day and then I tackle approaches and resources after that. Being aware that each student is unique, I try to point out various resources within the hospital setting to aid in each student being able to aquire the necessary information, i.e., patient/staff assignment boards in nurses stations, I pair them up with a preceptor for the day and tell them to follow the "see one, do one, teach one" motto. Watch a procedure, do the same procedure with the preceptor present, "teach" the procedure to their peers during post conference. I provide them with resources during post conference that address various learning styles. Video, text, post conference discussion, equipment to manipulate to compliment the topic, etc. I love to see "the light come on" when they have mastered a topic. That is when I truly know the point made it to their understanding. The hospital can be a very resource rich setting. I don't think they realize all the resources available to them at first. They tend to have a sort of tunnel vision until I am able to show them all that is available to help them gain information.
James, Thanks for your post to the forum. This article adresses that issue.
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/645
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I am fascinated by the concept of improving teast results by adapting and customizing exam delivery methods to better match different learning styles. Are there any practical examples of this?
