Students possess many different learning styles.
Through pretests, IEP's, observation, etc., teachers can soon develop a better understanding of how individual students in their classroom learn best. It is a critical component of individualized instruction.
By knowing the learning characteristics of your students you can adapt your coursework to be nurturing of their needs.
To expand, putting faces with names helps to remember the student's information - which includes learning characteristics.
you know how to design to each student's best way of learning - thus more retention and more engagment
Commonly used learning style, from Fleming's VARK, are:
1. visual learners;
2. auditory learners;
3. reading/writing-preference learners;
4. kinesthetic learners or tactile learners
By knowing how best each student learns and then refocusing your teaching style and energy toward that, the student will be more successful.
It helps the instructor in determining the needs of student
It helps because then you will know how best to teach your students.
Remembering facts about students is harder when the class is online. We discount how much physical appearance plays in our memory.
It helps because it gives the instructor an idea of how a student or students respond to problems or reading material
I have confidence it helps in how an instructor delivers the material and at what pace it is presented.
Instructional planning involves the preparation necessary to meet the individual needs of the classroom members. A Mathematics Lesson Evaluation is included to show the ability to interpret the goals, strengths, and weaknesses of a lesson plan. Constant changes are required to build the best possible lessons from those that were initially successful.
This section also contains notes on Problem Solving, Transfer, and Information Processing. These a excellent reminders of the methods that are utilized by students to reach their goals.
By understanding the learner, their special needs, life experiences, and world view, the instructor is better prepared to teach in a way that will have a positive impact in the classroom.
Hi Amy,
You are doing a great job of making a gen ed course relevant to your students. The examples are a great way to keep students engaged and to show them the ROI on their completing the course.
Gary
Hi Eulalia,
You are right on target with your use of the different instructional delivery categories to accommodate the different learning preferences of students. By offering a couple of different avenues you are spreading out the opportunity for students to learn in their preference areas. This is what targeted instructional planning is about. Keep up your efforts and you will continue to experience success with your students.
Gary
Well, the concept in its entirety feels a bit overwhelming in larger class environments. I do tend to notice those who are struggling and lean towards giving them more feedback and encouragement than others. This, I've noticed, has led to an imbalance that results in the students who are doing well and catching on expressing a lack of confidence. I was not prepared for this and now have something else to add into what I need to address. General education classes tend to get questioned regarding their value to the students' futures as well, so I make sure I am prepared with real world examples of how the class is important. Each quarter, though, I look for the students' current jobs or future career choices in order to keep the examples fresh.
It helps you to individualize your students so that you can determine what each student needs to help them succeed.
By understanding learners' characteristics the course material may be able to be presented to where the learners more readily identify and retain the information.
Within a classroom, the students’ learning preferences are most likely composed of all 4 learning preferences: written word, visualization, auditory, and tactile. Planning an instructional style that would include more than 2 of the preferences would be ideal. I think it would be impossible to combine all 4 preferences on certain classes, for example, accounting.
Hi Dina,
Welcome to teaching. I wish you much success as a new professional in what I think is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding professions one can do.
You have a very well thought out approach to your classroom and what you want from your students. You are going to do well as an teacher and model for your students.
Gary
