Knowing the learning styles of my students will enable me to tailor my lesson plans to the
style(s) that will be most effective in teaching a particular class.
Hi Lyn - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are doing a great job of teaching to the learning styles! The reason I still ask all my students about their learning styles is because often it gives them insight into how they could study better. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Thomas - Thanks for your post to the forum and a great summary of why taeching to the learning styles works! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It is extremely importnant to know the learning style makeup if your students as well as the type of infrmation to be delivered. Pairing these together will bring an engaging and exciting atmosphere to the class whereby students feel they are achieving as they are receiving information tailored to their unique learning style.
I do like to know the learning styles of each of the students. Although after teaching for 6 years I have just incorporated all styles in every unit I cover. I lecture it, demo/examples, do it, review it on the board/powerpoint, then homework.
I no longer ask students about their learning styles unless I have a student who is struggling then I ask to help them try to figure out study techniques.
Knowing the ways in which your students learn best can be immensely helpful in the classroom. If I know that I have a lot of visual learners, I will typically use Power Point, video clips, and other resources to assist them. For the tactile learners, I try my best to get them up and moving around. This could be as simple as having them come to the board to write an answer to an activity where moving around the room is a must. The auditory learners typically learn when I lecture, but video clips help them as well.
The more that I know about my student's learning styles, the easier it is for me to create lessons in which I can ensure that they are learning something.
By knowing how your own particular students learn you can vary the delivery method so that each student's needs are recognized.
HI Sharon - here is a free learning style assessment that you can use with your students.
http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lsi/lsitest1.html
Best wishes - Susan
Hi Lu- Thanks for your post to the forum. How terrific that your college does the prep work for you by assessing the learning styles of your students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Because our college tests each new student to determine their preferred learning style it has been much easier to gear each class to multiple styles.
I like to give the students a variety of learning styles.
When I give lecture, I speak about the topic, I have power points for my visual leaners, I have homework, so they get hands-on for my tactile and/or Kinesthetic learners.
Plus giving it many different ways, the info should hopefully click with each student on their level
Hi Sharon - Thanks for your post to the forum. Here is a free Learning Style Inventory to use with your students.
http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lsi/lsitest1.html
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I also would like information on testing for students learning styles, as I am new to my job, any input from you would be great. Sharon
Time is truly the biggest challenge depending upon the structure of the course. Delivering multiple content mediums is extremely challenging which is why the military has gone towards gaming and simulations which blends the visual, tactile, and auditory learning styles together and allows them to reinforce the lecture content immediately with tactile application. It is highly effective for the learning styles of many young people today.
Yes, I think that will help. I am starting to accumulate ideas and some supplies to do more demos and hopefully I can involve the students in these so they get the experience themselves.
By knowing the learning styles of your students you can help keep them actively involved and motivated in the learning process. By knowing the four learning styles of your students better prepares you as an instructor because you become aware of the methods of instruction for your students.
By knowing the learning styles of your students, you can deliver the information much more effectively and successful. You have better tools to asses their learning experience.
Hi Denise - Thanks for your post to the forum. Is it possible to just bring in some components to do a demo without having to use a lab? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Rosemary- Thanks for your post to the forum. your strategy for teaching to diverse styles is great! I agree, it is especially important when working with individual students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
As a Fashion Design Instructor I would have expected most of my students to be visual or kinesthetic learners; but this is not always the case. I have usually used my judgement to determine their preferences but this usually takes a few weeks to determine. I am going to try giving them a questionnaire at the beginning of term, as suggested in the course. It would also be interesting to learn if the students themselves know what their own learning style is. Although I always vary my method of delivery to the whole class there are several instances when I am working one on one with individual students and it would be particularly helpful to know their learning style as early in the course as possible.
