Get Your Students Hired
Hi Sue- Thanks for your post to the forum. What ever it takes to get them to learn right? You have quite a diversity in your classroom - best wishes for continued success! Susan
It allows you to increase information retention by delivering the information through modes that students will be able to accept and process. This will also help keep the students interested and motivated if they feel like they are actually"getting it". Using the relevant delivery methods will increase the success rate of the instructor and the student.
There is always a variety of learning styles in the classroom, I teach Massage therapist and they usually prefer the tactile learning style, The classes also have medical assistance and administrator and often they have visual or auditory styles. Having a good balance is important for these classes, Sometimes it seems that the auditory/visual learners don't take the tactile learning as important. Me, I like the head fake, Getting the students to learn something but not being aware of it until after the session.
As a new instructor for Med. Terminology, I am finding it is very important to know my students learning styles. I am finding that some students understand the material from just reading on their own before class, while others don't quite grasp the concepts until I run through a powerpoint, and still, others need to complete a worksheet to finally understand the material. By knowing this information, I can become a better instructor. If I can incorporate multiple ways of delivering content throughout a lecture, I can possibly help more students master the material.
The main benefit to knowing the learning styles of my students as a whole will allow me to reach as many students as possible through instructional enhancement and design. For example, I can provide an auditory lecture to accompany a PowerPoint presentation. Depending on subject matter, have the students manipulate objects to create a final product while showing photos and talking them through the process as they can also follow the written directions in a manual. We will never hit every learning style at all times, but we need to make the effort to cover as much as we can and try to cater to as many styles as we can.
-Greg Coughlin
Hi Matt - thanks for your post to the forum. You hit the nail on it's head- using multiple delivery styles within each lesson is the best way to go! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
As an instructor I am always trying to tailor my message to the variety of different learning styles of the students seated before me. I've found that most students have portions of multiple learning styles. If I am able to hit on different learning styles within the same lesson I will be able to engage a higher percentage of my students.
HI Elizabeth- Thanks for your post to the forum!You have it exactly right - if students are struggling, review what you are doing in your lessons and revise as needed. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
We can be more effective instructors by knowing our students learning styles because we are able to reach more of our students by varying our delivery methods.
The benefit of knowing the individual's learning style is that you can make sure you vary that delivery and hit on all of the styles within your classroom. If a student is struggling you can review your delivery and make sure you are including their learning style.
By knowing the learning styles of your students you learn to deliver your information in a variety of ways to appeal to all types of learning. Delivering in only one way will only appeal to a group of students and will not give the others the opportunity to absorb the information and excel. Leaving some students behind and frustrated.
It is so important to know the styles of your students. While you won't be able to accomodate every style in every class session, knowing your students will help you deliver in the most beneficial way. Adding variety will help all students master the topic.
Hi Esther- Thanks for your post to the forum. Asking students for input certainly allows them to play a more active role in their learning! Best wishes - Susan
I find it beneficial to have periodic, short class meetings to discuss which lessons and methods of presentation have been most memorable and revelant to the students and which they would like to see improved upon or modified. It lets the students know that I care about their learning environment and by participating, they are more likely to buy into the lesson.
Hi Kim - Thanks for your post to the forum! I have formed teams according to personality styles ( which are different from learning styles). It's really amazing to watch the synergy that occurs! Best wishes- Susan
It is important to know how different students learn. That way teachers can vary their delivery methods including all 4 types so all students can learn.
I strongly agree. I think its great to do a combination of many different teaching techniques.
I have found that mixing it up tends to keep students engaged, and usually you are able to keep the majority of students content.
I also think that sometimes,when doing group activities, it is beneficial to match students up according to styles.
I think that many instructors tend to teach to their own preferred learning style. By recognizing that students have differnet learning styles you can make the conscious decision to vary your teaching style. Knowing a student's individual learning preference can also help you best address that student's questions.
What are the instructional benefits of knowing the learning styles of your students? How can this knowledge be used to help you be a more effective instructor?
Understanding how your students learn best will allow you to be come a better instructor overall. Students will be more likely to want to continue taking courses from you if they feel like they are getting something out of it. The best way to ensure that you are reaching the most students is to take the time to make sure you are touching on all of the different ways people learn while planning, and then reevaluating once you begin teaching your course. I find that from time to time I will have classes where I have most students who are auditory and visual. I can focus on those areas when planning, and then bring in some kinesthetic and written word methods to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
-Bobbi Bricker
I like to be in class early and just chat with students as they enter. There are always the ones who race in at the last minute. Target them on breaks to ask how their week-end was or how is their job going, or what do they plan to do with their degree? Just showing a basic interest in them as people is all that it takes. Best wishes! Susan