I believe it can help students be better trainers once they reach the industry. They will realize as they grow that how they explain things and teach things is how their success will be measured.
HI Benjamin- Thanks for your post to the forum! You gave us some great examples of tools we can use to reach all the learning styles. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Hi Thomas- Thanks for a great post to the forum. As you point out it really is important to be comfortable using delivery that works with every style. They may not all be necessarily used in every class but over the course of the entire class we should be implememting them all. Best wishes - Susan
The instructional benefits of knowing the learning styles of your students is that it will make you a more effective teacher. A good way to use this knowledge is to understand the learning styles well enough that you can change your teaching style from one moment to the next. If the student has read about it in the manual and didn't understand it that way, try explaining it to them verbally. If they still give you that deer in the headlights look, try a demo. It is also a good idea to get them involved with the demo. Talk them through the procedure while they perform it. If we comfortable with these varied teaching methods we will be much more successful as educators.
I believe that everyone learns differently and with a diverse class teaching must be done to satisfy the whole audience rather than just to specific individuals. This can be accomplished by having a variety of materials available: PowerPoint presentations, youtube videos, guest speakers, small discussion groups, etc.
Hi Richard- Thanks for your post to the forum. As you mention, we really do see a lot of diversity in our career college classrooms. Understanding the differences in how they learn is so important. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
HI Dawn - I really liked the way that you describe addressing all the learning styles- we can really feel the energy going on in your classroom! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I like to be able to teach at all of the different learning styles. This benefits myself and the students. Not only do I learn different strageties, but my students get to learn the way they know best AND the other styles challenge them to learn differently; or maybe they will find that they can learn from another style just as well as the other. It's a WIN-WIN!
I work at a career college. My students come from different backgrounds and different generations. I need to understand how each learns in order to best faciliate their learning. Once I know how they learn I can set up my instruction to best accommodate the educational process.
Hi David- Thanks for your post to the forum. If we take our role as teacher seriously, as you point out David, we have a huge amount of responsibility to our students and to our schools to ensure that they learn what was said they would learn in the admissions process. Best wishes - Susan
To get the student excited,motivated, and by letting them know I am here for you. It quite simply is all about them. We as instructors need to prepare the next generation to be able to properly repair cars, trucks, boats and other modes of transportation. At the end of the day, they have to posess the knowledge to acurately diagnose problems and repair them in a timely fashion. If I can learn to pass on my knowledge in a way that is readily understood and digested, I feel good about what I have accomplished.
Hi Trudy- Thanks for your post to the forum. Isn't it amazing how students react when we make the effort to reach their learning styles?
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Last week in class, the textbook for my course discussed briefly, these 4 learning styles. I found a short assessment quiz that I gave my students that allowed them to see what their style is. Interestingly enough, of the 14 students, only 2 are auditory learners. This is important to me as their professor, recognizing that "lecturing" to the students will not engage most of the class. I do work to vary what we do, how I teach-shake things up, have variety. When I do, I can feel the energy of the room grow as they are more interested in the material.
Anything that helps me to reach and teach my students more effectively is beneficial. Conversely, being aware of my learning style helps me to relate to the way my students may struggle with certain approaches.
Both force me to consider a variety of methods of information presentation and application... which means that the students (and I) won't be squirming through weeks of straight lecture.
The instructors benefits of knowing the learning styles will help me become an effective instructor. Using one method does not benefit student learning if I am employing a style that does not help to foster their learning styles. By using different methods during my classes this should help to increase overall understanding of mathematical concepts.
To be an effective teacher I need to be willing and able to employ different learning styles. In addition, I need to cater my courses to the level of understanding of my students. Just because I understand algebraic problems does not mean my students understand the concepts, therefore I need to use questioning techniques and build upon what my students already understand.
I think that grabbing and maintaining student's interest is imperative for their success. Once you've got their attention, you need to utilize their learning style to effect their understanding of the information you've presented. In my opinion, the best teachers make learning seem "easy".
Hi Kim - Thanks for your post to the forum. You mention a good point - mixing up your delivery keeps you fresh but also makes class more exciting for your students. Best wishes- Susan
Kim,
I have to agree. It does keep the students interested in the class.
Cathy
I can know what they will relate to, what will get them to engage in their learning. It will cause the classroom to be energized, as students are getting something out of the time together. It will make them look forward to coming to class, as they never know quite what to expect. It forces me to think outside my box/comfort zone, and thereby grow as an educator.
Dean,
I agree. It is important to plan your presentations according to your students' needs. I like to use different activities to evaluate the students to see if they can effectively apply the material discussed in class. The evaluations help me assess if I need to present the material in additional formats.
Cathy
