By knowing the style of learning you will be able to help the student in the classroom sitting.
Some students are "hands on" learners while others can learn by just listening.....both are different teaching methods but can also be effective when it is identified on how the student learns best.
Knowing the learning style of your students helps to effectively reach out to the students. It helps the students understand better which ensures that learning has occured. This knowledge helps the instructor to be more effective as it makes passing knowledge to students more efficient.
It is interesting to learn the different learning styles of new students entering the program. Typically, I use several styles for a learning module and ask which is the preferred. Since the answers are varied, we discuss different learning styles and then incorporate the predominate ones for future modules.
I believe students will be more interested in the material and retain the knowledge learned for a longer period of time. As an instructor, I will be able to grow and vary my delivery to maximize student information retention.
Hi Heidi, Thanks for your post to the forum. I also use PPT a lot in class, but I tend to base my quizzes on the material in the textbook which gets them reading. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Jacqueline, Thanks for your post to the forum. Ideally we would have all students evauated for learning style preference before we start a class. That rarely happens, so it is up to us to evaluate our students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I currently use a lot of PowerPoint presentations for the class lecture part of class. Generally, I do not like to do this as then students do not read their chapters. Through this course, I see that PPt is useful to the visual learner. I am hoping to learn ways to be able to use PPts while encouraging students to read their text books too. Onward!
some times it is clear even when the class says it under stands the subject the really don;t by going over it more than once and asking students to ask questions we get a better understanding of the subject matter
Hi Julie, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, we cannot use the "cookie cutter approach" and expect all of our students to really learn. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Rachael, Thanks for sharing an excellent comment on teaching to the learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Betty, Thanks for your post to the forum. I always encourage instructors to vary their delivery styles as much as possible as this will accomodate the diverse learning styles of students.
Susan Polick
Every instructors should have a general idea of how their student learns on the first day. Therefore, she would be able to understand their needs and how they learn.
I find it very useful to know the learning styles of the students. This will allow you to prepare lecture and projects with the student having a greater understanding on how the project will work. Each student is unique and we as instructors must bring out their full potential by understanding how they learn. It will be a better, all around class room environment.
The instructional benefits of knowing the learning styles of students are enormous. Every student in the class should be able to have learning of new material presented in such a manner that is most conducive for their success in class.
As both a classroom and online teacher, I must be familiar with all styles of student learning. As human beings, we all have our own preference of how we take in new information. If I only catered to the type of students that learn how I prefer to learn (or how I prefer to teach) I would be doing a dis-service to many students in my classrooms.
It is very important to know the learning style of your student. That way it will be easier to decide how you will present the material. To make sure everyone is learning from you information provide alittle of every learning style.
I think if the instructors reach out more to their students, they will take more interest in class.
Well-put, Donta. Although I attempt to incorporate all 4 major learning styles in my classes, some topics do not lend easily to, say, kinesthetic engagement. It can be a challenge for me, especially in the newer courses I'm assigned to teach, do develop some of these methods. When I do try to incorporate some variety for the first time, I like to engage my students afterwards and almost 'poll' them for their opinions of the content delivery: "Which of those ways did you find easiest to understand this concept," etc. It allows me to gauge how the majority best retained the information to decide my 'main' presentation method later, and also to get a feel for individual learning preferences within the class.
Hi Tahiddie, Thanks for your post to the forum. The sooner that students can apply concepts learned in lecture, the better retention of those concepts. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
