Knowing the learning style of a student can prevent frustration. If a student has been taught to use a particular methodology for learning and continually fails to absorb the content, the student may begin to consider drastic steps such as campus withdraw due to feeling like, "They just can't do this." One of the methods I use to support Auditory listeners is to instruct them to read their course material Out-Loud when studying so that they will process this information through that sensory network. When we read silently, even though we are seeing the information, we are not actually, "Hearing it," even though it seems like we are, "Hearing it in our mind." Only actual sensory activation can assist with memory encoding.
Hi Sean, Thanks for your post to the forum. that's a good point - when students are not bored, classroom management is much easier!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Chris, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, when our students are engaged because we are teaching to the learning styles, they are excited about learning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
An instructor who tries to know, understand, address and adjust to the learning style of his/her student is a caring instructor whose main focus is helping his/her students learn and succeed.
Knowing how the student accepts information is the foundation for the lesson plan itself. I would rather spend more time in the application process rather than the information side of the lecture. Students stay engaged and disciplinary issues are at a minimum. Everyone benefits from this.
One big advantage to this is to insure students stay actively engage and excited to be in class everyday.
Knowing the learning styles of individual students, and taking that into account when preparing for classes, will help an instructor reach the most students.
Hi Megan, I am glad that you have found this course useful!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
knowing the learning sytles of my students helps me to help them optimal acheivement in passing my class. It also gives me the satifaction that all my students are grasping the material well but in their own way.
I am in my sixth week of instructing five course and I can easily see this applied in many different lesson plans in the different course that I am involved with at my school.
Hi Heather, Thanks for your post to the forum. I am glad that you have found this course useful! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career,
Susan Polick
I find that learn the style of the students helps me to prepare a better lecture approach. Changing styles through the lecture keeps them engaged.
I must admit that I have not taken the opportunity to uncover the learning styles of my students. I also do not know if my institution conducts learning style assessments during the admissions process. I do try to offer a variety of sensory modalities when delivering my course content, but now that I am learning more theory and research as a result of taking the ED 103 course, I intend to hand out a 'learning assessment questionnaire' during my first class of the winter 2014 quarter. I may be surprised as to the diversity of the types of learners present and then make the appropriate modifications to best to meet their educational needs.
The benefit is it makes you a better teacher. Your students can actually learn. And both parties feel good in the end because they were understood!
Knowing the learning styles of the students will help you address where students are missing out on the information that is being presented to them. If you have a student that is a hands on learner you can get him more information during a lab asignment then during a lecture
Hi Colette, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are certainly running an active learning classroom! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Knowing the learning styles of your students helps to keep them engaged during lectures. Our classroom time is very long so addressing each style keeps them listening and participating. Using power points with brightly colored illustrations, handouts with missing text that they need to fill in along with textbook assignments and classroom discussions with hands-on demonstrations usually keeps them alert. Also giving a 5-10 minute break every hour gives them a chance to move around.
Knowing the learning styles of my students will allow to deliver the information in ways that are easier for students to comprehend. It also allows for a more dynamic and entertaining way of learning.
By knowing a students learning style, the instructor can curtail their teaching style. Since every student has a little different learning style, it is important to ensure that as an instructor, you use 3 or 4 different delivery methods.
Hi Jelitza, Thanks for sharing some good examples of how to incorporate learning styles into assessments. Best wishes for continued success in your aching career.
Susan Polick
