Learning Styles

In the previous post I have shed some light into different types of intelligence in a learner. Every learner adapts his or her dominant intelligence to shape his or her learning style. The seven types of learning styles that have been identified are; visual, aural, verbal, logical, kinesthetic, intrapersonal and interpersonal learning styles. Students use their visual, auditory and tactile sensations to adapt their dominant learning style. 

1. Tactile Learners:

These learners remember what they have experienced from their hand or other parts of the body. When doing practically tactile sense receptors located in the skin, organs, muscle and joints cause depolarization of the nerve ending and generate an action potential which travels towards the spinal cord through the neuronal pathways to terminate at the primary somatosensory area in the parietal lobe of brain where there is a map of sensory space called a homunculus (which maps the brain to certain areas of the body e.g. hand, legs involved in doing the activity). Tactile information is thus reached to the central nervous system and processed. 

Teaching strategies for this type of learners can involve in giving out-of-seat activities and also making students do their own multimedia presentations.

2. Visual Learners

Visual learners tend to retain what they see including diagrammatic representations of concepts, illustrations and data represented in charts and graphical forms. Strategies used to teach for this type of learners include the use of attractive and interesting visuals and use of study materials that are clear and easy to ready. The visual study aids used must be arranged in a logical sequence for the learner to derive meaning easily and to avoid confusion.  Use of multimedia, videos, images, pictures and other forms of diagrammatic representations will be excellent ways to teaching visual learners. Making the students to take relevant important digital images, for example during experiments, will contribute this type of learners to learn and remember what has been taught. 

3. Auditory Learners

Auditory learners tend to retain information which they have been told by their teacher or friends. They are keen in participating in discussions and talk programs. Key strategies used to teach auditory learners include giving out clear verbal information, repeat key points and summarize the lesson at the end of the class. It is also important to try and keep classroom silent during explanations so that the verbal learner makes the most of it. Classroom discussions are helpful for this type of learning. In addition sound effects can be utilized for teaching such as multimedia, music and speeches.

Understanding students learning styles and adapting the best suited learning style can produce good learning outcomes. This is particularly useful when dealing with topics that are demanding and challenging in nature. For example some literature lessons may involve plays comprising of old English language which is hard to understand. Instead of dictating the play if a teacher designs the lesson into a drama it would include all 3 styles of learning and many (almost all) learners will find their learning styles being used and will be intrigued by the entertainment itself.

Reference:

PGCE lecture notes

Understanding Learner Characteristics

Different learners will have different extents of the ability to learn. It can be attributed by several factors which were addressed in the post ‘student diversity’. In addition an important attribute that influence learning is the learner’s level of intelligence. 

Intelligence is the ability to reason out in a logical manner. It includes the processes of paying attention, identification of things and situations that are of significance, interpret and derive meanings. There are several types of intelligences unlike what was thought before. Previously Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was thought to be the main determinant of a person’s intelligence, however now it has been identified that several types of intelligences such as Emotional Intelligence (EQ), verbal, kinesthetic, spatial, intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence contribute to the overall intelligence of a person.

Some students may have one or more of the above mentioned types of intelligences developed beyond the expected for their age. Those students will be able to learn rapidly and successfully complete the tasks given to them much sooner. Such students are often referred to as gifted students. It is important identify such students and deal with them accordingly. If their needs are not addressed they could complete the tasks way ahead of others become easily bored. 

Learner style(s) of a learner could be understood by understanding his / her dominant type of intelligence and by designing tasks that require use of the dominant intelligence. This is particularly helpful to those students who don’t do well with stereotype of teaching. 

Reference:

PGCE lecture notes

Student Diversity

Student diversity is attributed by several factors such as their socioeconomic status, culture, ethnic group, presence of physical or learning disabilities etc. Their behaviors could have primarily been derived from different genetic and hereditary characteristics of their ancestry and heavily influenced by environmental experiences. These will eventually lead different students to have different levels of verbal commands, quantitative reasoning, derive meaning from companionship, appreciation of art etc. It is important not to limit ourselves to classroom while we are trying to understand our learners. Often parents or caretakers may need to be interrogated to understand the child. Sometimes even peers can be an important source of information. 

Gender Bias

It is the preference given to either male or female students without a rational reason. Gender bias may occur consciously or unconsciously. Male and female students exhibit a difference in learning abilities in different learning paradigms.  Over all male students exhibit a superior ability in solving quantitative problems (mathematics and physics) where as female students are superior to their male counter parts in memorizing and mastering language. Learning variation patterns among genders greatly contribute to carrier selection as well. 

Socioeconomic Status

A teacher must treat respectfully and equally to students of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds and other diversity factors such that the worth of human dignity is not affected. 

Special Needs

Students with special learning needs are those who have learning challenges. It could be due to disorders such as autism, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, language / communication disorder, emotional and behavioral disorders. Ideally these students must be educated in a special need specialized class. However in absence of such a facility such students should be first and foremost identified and taught according to their level of understanding without comparison to their peers. It is important to involve parents or care givers in educating such students.

How can we address student diversity?

1.    General Strategies

•   Understand student diversity and make the students apprehend of it.
•  Be informed of history and as many cultures.
•  Acknowledge students cultural identity in classroom practice.
• Promote mutual respect among students.
• Motivate them to be active learners through critical thinking and active participation.
• Recognize biases.
• Understand that each student is an individual and respect him for his personal attributes.
• Be sensitive and avoid statements or an example that degrades a group.
• Get the picture of cultural situation of the class and address any potentially unhealthy situations well in advance.

2.    Strategies related to course content

•  Select text whose language is gender neutral and free of stereotype.
•  Understand that students may not be familiar with cultures practices and historical references as the teacher.
• Consider student needs when giving homework and weekend tasks.

3.     Strategies related to class discussions

• Give importance to different viewpoints and make clear that you value all views.
• Encourage all students to take part in discussions and avoid singling out of students as spokes persons.
•  Apprehend one’s own behavior in response to the student comments.
•  Discourage any student remarks which are humiliating or degrading.

4.    Strategies related with gender equity

• Make lessons, work arrangements and rewards equally encouraging to all students
•  Incorporate Math and Science into other subjects as well and address their practical everyday uses.
• Create a reading list that is appealing for boys as well.
•  Employment computer and technology in teaching learning activities

Understanding student diversity will allow a teacher to adapt the best strategies for teaching and managing the class in terms of discipline. It will also make the learning process more enjoyable and fruitful for the students. Addressing student diversity will invariably contribute to effective teaching. Failure to address student diversity could give rise to the most unpredicted and unforeseen situation.

Reference:

PGCE lecture notes

Understanding Pedagogy

‘Learning’ has different meanings for different people. Some emphasize on certain aspects of learning paradigms while others emphasize on different aspects. Learning is the ability to acquire, retain, relate, interpret and reproduce knowledge and skills.   

Traditional views of ‘learning’ as the ability to memorize is being gradually replaced by modern day beliefs that learning can occur to a great extent without actually memorizing anything as long as the learner is able to derive meaning from what has been taught. 

In educational institutes following a learning experience the learners are generally subjected to different types of tests to demonstrate whether learning has actually occurred and if so to which extent it has occurred. 

Pedagogy is the science of teaching to children and addresses good practice in teaching (pedo = child). Pedagogy addresses different teaching strategies and instructional methods. It is essential to understand pedagogy in order to be an effective teacher. Theoretical perspectives in teaching and learning are further discussed in this blog.  

Reference:

PGCE lecture notes