I'm interested in delivering lectures according to what works for all of my students, but I'm wondering if there is a quick survey available to have the students fill out on their first day? I'm sure I could make one up but is there a standard that is frequently used?
Hi David, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's great that you have always been teaching to the learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Once you know how your students prefer to learn, you can gear your presentation of material to their particular learning style and thereby increase the deliver of information. Until I participated in this course, I didn't realize that I actually incorporate all learning styles in my classes. Who knew?
Hi Thomas, Thanks for your post to the forum. I am also a visual learner and enjoy finding similar videos to embed in my online classes. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Judy, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree that we need to be aware of our own learning style as it certainly can influence our delivery. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I agree some courses are difficult to teach to kinesthetic learners. In anatomy, I used to take students to see an autopsy, or have plastic models. If a school does not have financial resources to purchase these objects, it makes it more difficult. Sometimes, I may have the students draw parts of anatomy, too, but I find that very time consuming.
One of the best courses I ever took was a graduate course on learning styles and color personalities. I have used this method of assessment several years now. I strongly believe in the importance of knowing the learning styles of my students, as it is my job to make them successful. Their method of learning is as individual as their hair color. I always comment we are all the same, yet all different. I believe it is equally as important for me to recognize my own learning style and not rely on it soley in my teaching method. I enjoyed the comment regarding the importance of placing students in groups to interact with others with different learning styles, this, a study group or tutor is always beneficial.
It is important to know what learning style students have so as to ensure each student actually learns what you are trying to teach in your presentation. It would be a shame not to address the needs of a particular student because he or she is very poor at a particular style of presentation. Knowing what styles are prefered by various students allows an instructor to provide various means of presenting the information to all students, not just one group. I for one am a visual learner and enjoy watching the Learning Channels, Nat Geo, History Channel, etc. I find them captivating, interesting, and very informative in a relaxing kind of way.
I think it makes it easy to deliver new information and allows the learner to know how to get the most out of learning.
Hi Wendy, Thanks for your post to the forum. I'm glad that you found this course helpful! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Diona, Thanks for your post to the forum. You mention an important consideration - teaching to the learning styles can improve student perseverance. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I have always known that everyone has a different learning style. I appreciate this module because it gives experiential learning ideas and concepts that are usable in the real world setting. I have always enjoyed challenging my students with the tactile and I use a lot of power point presentations. I know see more value in assigning more book-type assignments and am going to incorporate some more video clips. I also was reminded of the using your hands while learning tactic. For a work meeting we were given pipe cleaners to "play" with and that exercise was extremely reminiscent of this course.
Knowing how your students learn help to make your class more interesting and keeps the attention of the students. In turn it decreases the number of dropped students because they stay interested.
Knowing the learning style of your students is a win for all involved especially the student. Having this information assist the instructor to better understanding the best approach for achieving a great educational outcome.
KH
If I can determine the learning styles of my students than I can deliver my class content to the students in a fashion that will help my students achieve the higher levels of understanding and then applying the knowledge they gain.
Hi Diana, Thanks for your post to the forum. That must indeed make for a very dynamic classroom!
Susan Polick
On our campus, we are encouraged to change our teaching delivery every 7 minutes. That change can be from lecture, power point, discussion, hands-on, video, small groups, games, pictures/charts, stories, questions, movement in the classroom, etc. I also enjoy the class time too because it allows each class to become unique. The dynamics of the students can play a significant role in the depth of content that I teach beyond the core content of the class.
Hi Richard, Thanks for your post to the forum. Getting to know our students also says that we care about them and enables us to better engage them in their learning. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Knowing what the learning styles of the students in your class is essential to managing the delivery of the information. At the start of each class, I go around the room and ask for a brief background of each person. This lets me know if they are book oriented, tactile, or visual learners and I can integrate all facets into my delivery in the class. I custom design each class by doing this to meet their needs.
Richard
Hi Rodney, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, as you state, teaching to the learning styles may "seem" to mean more work for instructors, in fact, it saves time, effort, and produces great results!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
