Varied Learning Styles

Varied Learning Styles : 

Varied Learning Styles Clark Atlanta University Janice Liddell, Ph.D. A Sankofa Educational Movement: SoTL as a Subversive Activity

Definition of Learning Styles : 

“A student’s consistent way of responding to and using stimuli in the context of learning”; “composite of characteristic cognitive, affective and physiological factors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how a learning perceives, interacts with, and responds to the learning environment” (Keefe, 1979); “educational conditions under which a student is most likely to learn.” (Stewart and Felicetti, 1992). Definition of Learning Styles

Varied Learning Styles : 

No one has a singular learning style, but rather people have multiple learning styles, with one or two being predominant. This collective of learning styles of any one person is generally based on past familial, social and educational experiences; thus learning styles are very much cultural, but they are certainly not immutable. Varied Learning Styles

Major Learning Style Models : 

Numerous researchers have developed models that purport to represent the learning styles and preferences of students. While it is important to know the literature and models, it is more important to know that no one adheres to only one learning style. As well, no cultural group adheres to a single learning style. Thus it is most important to be instructional creative and innovative and appeal to the diverse learning styles that you will encounter. Some of the styles to include in your teaching learning portfolio emerge from the following models: Major Learning Style Models

“Multiple Intelligence”: traditionally, education environments have tapped primarily into the “linguistic” and “logical” (book-based, using systems and reasoning);those who are more successful with other methods have often been seen as less intelligent. Some other methods of learning: : 

“Multiple Intelligence”: traditionally, education environments have tapped primarily into the “linguistic” and “logical” (book-based, using systems and reasoning);those who are more successful with other methods have often been seen as less intelligent. Some other methods of learning: For more information on this see: http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/ Visual (learns better using pictures, maps, images, etc.); Verbal (learns better using the written or spoken word—if spatial, may prefer learning on the computer rather than from a book); Auditory (learns better using recordings, music, rhythms); Kinesthetic (learns better by moving, using hands, sense of touch, (etc); Social/Interpersonal (learns better in groups; often does not do well in solitary or isolated activities); Solitary (learns better working alone and may not do well in groups.

VAK : 

Similar to the Multiple Intelligence, but more simplistic as it incorporates only Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic. While all learners learn suing all of these styles or preferences, those holding to this model suggest that all learners are predominant in one or two of them. (For more information, see http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/vakt.html) VAK

Felder and Silverman : 

Felder and Silverman Dr. Felder, a scientist, has published articles on learning styles with other researchers in different disciplines. See these at http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSpage.html For a taped discussion of Dr. Felder on Learning Styles go to http://ctl.csudh.edu/SpeakerSeries/Felder.htm; he does include some discussion on learning styles of “minority” students. Active and Reflective Learners (“tend to retain and understand information best by doing something active with it--discussing or applying it or explaining it to others. Reflective learners prefer to think about it quietly first”) Sensing and Intuitive Learners (“Sensors often like solving problems by well-established methods and dislike complications and surprises; intuitors like innovation and dislike repetition. Sensors are more likely than intuitors to resent being tested on material that has not been explicitly covered in class”. Visual and Verbal Learners (“Visual learners remember best what they see--pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films, and demonstrations. Verbal learners get more out of words--written and spoken explanations. Everyone learns more when information is presented both visually and verbally”) Sequential and Global Learners (Sequential learners tend to gain understanding in linear steps, with each step following logically from the previous one. Global learners tend to learn in large jumps, absorbing material almost randomly without seeing connections, and then suddenly "getting it."

David Kolb’ sModel : 

One of the most popular models; It identifies two preference dimensions as perception dimension and processing dimension; and four learning styles: Diverger/Converger/Accommodators/Assimilators. See details at http://changingminds.org/explanations/learning/kolb_learning.htm David Kolb’ sModel

More Learning Styles Models : 

Learning Styles and the African American student: See this compelling article at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3673/is_n2_v116/ai_n28666854/   Other models can be found at http://www.adultlearn.com/learning-style-models.html More Learning Styles Models

Slide 10: 

Help students to determine their predominant learning styles by having them to take one or both of these free quizzes and surveys, found at: http://www.chaminade.org/INSPIRE/learnstl.htm http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html

Slide 11: 

Remember that you cannot accommodate the particular learning styles of all your students, so vary your teaching strategies to accommodate various learning styles. Help your students find their best way to learn and their best ways to study; you can help them to improve their success rate by doing so.