Reality check
The various intelligences are facinating. Students do not necessisarily come to us knowing their best strategy for learning, nor is there time or opportunity to evaluate them. I find it best to have various strategies built in.
Yes, I think that if we use different methods within the class for presentation, student driven activities about the subject and various games or activites to review, you will most likely find an apporach that will reach each of the students.
I have utilized students to "re-explain" concepts when another student does not seem to grasp my explaination. They can sometimes relay it in a way that is easier to understand. This also allows me the opportunity to learn different methods for communicating a certain point or concept. I think it is just as important for me to learn as the students.
This is a great point. Many students still don't fully understand there are difference ways to learn or that they have particular preferences. Sometimes when I have the students take MI tests, they are still perlexed as to why they even took the exercise. I explain and it may not connect yet. Eventually, as they progress they may realize they have a preference and also learn to work with other's preferences. I like watching them learn this experience.
Best wishes, Wynell
Patrick,
Yes it is. Going to take some creativity to come up with connections between art and math. Blending the diverse learning abilities of students is a challenge but through the use of group learning and common projects it can be but takes coaching and support.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mathematics education seems to be a major challenge especially in decorative arts education.
Finding a common ground which allows stronger and weaker students achieve is always difficult.
Rtee,
This is such a good point. We educators are always tweaking our instructional delivery because there is always some improvements that can be made. I have been teaching the same courses for many years and each time I teach them I make changes and improvements which not only improve the courses but also help to keep me excited about teaching them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Justin,
This is a good point that you are making to your students. When they are in the workplace they will not be able to select their colleagues so they need to learn to learn from and get along with others different from themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that each time I teach, the students and their feedback/enthusiasm/grasp of concept helps me know if the delivery method appealed to their learning style. I note what works and how to apply in other classes. Always tweaking.
This is something I explain to my students when they complain about other instructors. Learning to comprehend different styles of instructing is an important skill to master before entering your chosen field.
Phil,
You are on the right track with this approach. With the speed of your course and the volume of material to cover I think you have done a very good job of developing a strategy that will help your students to be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I appreciate your situation regarding lack of time to evaluate students' various intelligences. I have my students for six weeks. By the time we cover the course outline, the school's standards and regulations and classroom conduct we must hit the floor running in order to complete the course content. The study indicating adults retain 25% of what they hear,40% of what they see and 70% of what they physically do in a 24-hour period helps support a teaching style that I have embraced. Talk about it, look at it being done, then practice it. Repeat or review the next day. Observing students reactions to any one of these three style could clue the instructor to individual intelligences. (I call them strengths. Rightly or wrongly.)
Greg,
Good for you. This is true because it is for sure that in the workplace there is going to be a variety of communication methods that will be used. Some may fit the preferred learning preference of an individual and some may not. The reality is that the employer really doesn't care, what he or she wants is performance so the listener has to be able to receive information in a variety of ways.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students sometimes complain about certain information delivery methods and I have to explain to them that people learn in different ways and I need to mix it up.
Tanya,
Yes it is. Sharing like this builds the interpersonal skills of students as well as their technical skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When a student work in a group or just help another student to understand material he himself understands it much better.
Tania,
Students like change of pace and variety in their learning delivery. You are doing such with your approach and I am sure it results with effective learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to use a variety of mediums to reach a different types of learners. I ask for feedback from my students individually if they come with questions afterwards.
Bryan,
Students like variety and change of pace in their courses. This is how you can appeal to the different learning preferences. You are on the right path with this approach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to touch on every learning style when training students in a certain skill or activity
