Overwhelming
I understand the need to tailor the class to the needs of the students, but say you get a class with several different types of intelligences, where do you start? Is this something that happens often or are there usually just three and you move on?
Despite this topic being overwhelming a bit to me, I am excited to know the differences. We all see things through our own lens and I was able to identify my intelligence types and am sure that students would be interested and excited to know that there are different learners and it is ok. For example....I HAVE to listen to either talk radio or music when studying or writing....it works for me!
Denise,
With the time limitations you have your are following the right strategy in getting your students engaged. The key is to offer variety so they can learn via different modalities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach a 6 week course so it is indeed difficult to learn their preferences (unless you assess them/ask them)I try to give a variety of approaches to learning the material so as many styles are met as possible. It doesn't work for every class session/topic/chapter but I try.
Kris,
Good analysis of how to relate to the different intelligences that will be present in a typical college class. Variety of delivery and interaction helps students with different intelligences to be able to work within their dominants while staying on pace with the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To an extent everyone has multiple learning styles. I am a read/write learner but I can learn kinesthetically as well if the situation presents itself. Kinesthetic students in a lecture-based classroom have to rely on audio, visual or read/write learning in those moments to absorb the material. Typically two styles stick out more than most, so you can target those. If you've never had the student before, give them a "test" assessing which learning style they are. You keep one and they keep one. Then you can see where your majority lie and tailor your lessons to the majority. It is also the student's responsibility to know how they learn best and adapt to your style as well, so you both have to meet in the middle as much as possible. If you are a dynamic instructor who moves around the room, uses different intonations, tells relevant stories that puts the information in context, and disseminates the content in a memorable way, that's a great place to start!
Juan,
This is a good strategy to follow. This way the different learning preference of the students are touched upon and they get to acquire the course content via different delivery venues and this results in higher levels of student engagement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I say cover all the bases,the course material or subject sometimes results in in clarity toward all and then the days when the subject has only certain approaches, repetitiveness of a class doesn't always mean that it get easier, at times it's just the opposite.
Use every avenue and instruct the different learners and watch their reaction and approval.
I agree with Dawn....this is challenging at best. I like the thought that I don't have to teach in a box and can vary my approach, but I think this is a process. I won't learn their preferences and be able to adapt overnight. I like the challenge.
Laura,
When you know how students in your class process information through their intelligence gateway you then know as you present the information they will be taking it in through that gateway. Customizing instruction means that you offer a variety of different delivery methods throughout the course and as each method is covered the students that process information through that format will be "soaking" the information up. As a result they can work in a learning group with other students and help to reinforce the content with them. When another delivery format is used a different groups of students through their preference will be "soaking" up the content and they in turn can reinforce it to other classmates. By the end of the course each student will have had his/her delivery venue used and will have been able to share with others in the process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with you Laura. What if you have multiple learning styles, how and where do you start? Is it up to us completely to tailor our teaching styles to all the students? Do the students have a responsibility to learn the material in their own learning style?
