Learning Stlyes

Thanks to Kenneth's post 'Learning Styles Serendipity' for directing me towards this excellent critical review Learning styles and pedagogy in post-16 learning. A critical analysis of a large spectrum of theories pertaining to learning styles is presented highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. An excellent read where I am sure there might be some styles lurking in there that were unknown.

Learning Stlyes

We all have different methods of assimilating information which have been defined by various theorists over the years to develop a better understanding of how we should present information to others. One of the main theorists, Dr. Howard Gardner, developed the theory of Multiple Intelligence in 1983 (Wise 2002) that consisted of eight different modes to demonstrate how we assimilate information:

· Linguistic intelligence;
· Logical-mathematical intelligence;
· Spatial intelligence;
· Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence;
· Musical intelligence;
· Interpersonal Intelligence;
· Intrapersonal Intelligence;
· Naturalist Intelligence.

Kolb’s theory of learning breaks down the above list into four concise compartments where children learn as:

· Diverging (feelings and watching);
· Assimilating (watching and thinking);
· Converging (doing and thinking);
· Accommodating (doing and feeling).

Gardner’s and Kolb’s theories of learning have influenced researchers and educationalists seeking to define the most effective way to teach children. Although both theories are used widely, the most popular theory is the VAK (Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic) which was developed from the Neuro-Linguistic Programming Research. Some analysts add Read/write to make VARK which mirrors a large proportion of learning in schools where children read texts from books, screens or whiteboards which they copy, note take or write in their own words.

Each of the above theories highlights how we learn in different ways, for example, some people perform better by listening to information, whereas, others prefer using their visual skills by reading information. The traditional instructional style of teaching may not be meeting everyone’s learning styles resulting in children’s assessments being misinterpreted where the teacher views their failure as not knowing rather than not understanding. Assessment is therefore not just about end products and test results but more importantly about:

‘growing understandings of how we learn and how good teachers teach.’
(Smith I 2004: 10)

Group 4 - Creating A Report

Today's lesson was taught to you with the teacher talking and notes on the board. How easy was it to follow the instructions? Did you need to ask for help? Was this the best way for you to learn?

Group 3 - Creating A Report

Today's lesson was taught to you with only the teacher talking. How easy was it to follow the instructions? Did you need to ask for help? Would you want all your lessons just to be talking?

Group 1 - Creating A Report

Today's lesson was taught to you using only notes and no teacher talking. How easy was it to follow the instructions? Did you need to ask for help? Would you want all your lessons just to be notes?

Group 4 - Using Yahoo Mail

Today you were taught some tools in Yahoo Mail where you only had written instructions to follow. How do you think you managed this lesson?

Group 3 - Using Yahoo Mail

Today you were taught some tools in Yahoo Mail where Mrs Tonner talked used the whiteboard to demonstrate. You also had written step by step instructions to refer to. How do you think you managed this lesson?

Group 4 - Creating An E-mail Account

Today you were taught how to create an e-mail account with Yahoo Mail. The style of teaching used was auditory, written instructions and demonstrations using the whiteboard. How successful do you think the lesson was? Did you find it easy or difficult follow all instructions? What made you seek support - forgot instruction, required verification that you were doing the correct thing or frightened to make a mistake? Comment on why you were successful of unsuccessful today.

Group 3 - Creating An E-mail Account

Today you were taught how to create an e-mail account with Yahoo Mail. The style of teaching used was written instructions. How successful do you think the lesson was? Did you find it easy or difficult follow all instructions? What made you seek support - did not understand instructions, required verification that you were doing the correct thing or frightened to make a mistake? Comment on why you were successful of unsuccessful today.

Group 2 - Creating An E-mail Account

Today you were taught how to create an e-mail account with Yahoo Mail. The style of teaching used was auditory and written instructions. How successful do you think the lesson was? Did you find it easy or difficult follow all instructions? What made you seek support - forgot instruction, required verification that you were doing the correct thing or frightened to make a mistake? Comment on why you were successful of unsuccessful today.

Group 1 - Creating An E-mail Account

Today you were taught how to create an e-mail account with Yahoo Mail. The style of teaching used was purely auditory where Mrs Tonner talked you through the process. How successful do you think the lesson was? Did you find it easy or difficult only relying on your hearing to follow instructions? What made you seek support - forgot instruction, required verification that you were doing the correct thing or frightened to make a mistake? Comment on why you were successful of unsuccessful today.

How Do You Learn? Group 2

How do you think you learn? Do you learn by listening or reading? Do you need to write things down before you remember something? How do you remember the code for the school? Do you remember the numbers once you have heard them or do you need to write it down? Or do youi type it in and remember how it looks on the keyboard? Tell me how you think you learn best and give me examples of why you think this is the best way you learn.

How Do You Learn? - Group 1

How do you think you learn? Do you learn by listening or reading? Do you need to write things down before you remember something? How do you remember the code for the school? Do you remember the numbers once you have heard them or do you need to write it down? Or do youi type it in and remember how it looks on the keyboard? Tell me how you think you learn best and give me examples of why you think this is the best way you learn.

How do You Learn? Group 3

How do you think you learn? Do you learn by listening or reading? Do you need to write things down before you remember something? How do you remember the code for the school? Do you remember the numbers once you have heard them or do you need to write it down? Or do youi type it in and remember how it looks on the keyboard? Tell me how you think you learn best and give me examples of why you think this is the best way you learn.