Week 2 Reflection Question

Question 2: MY UNDERSTANDING ON DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON LEARNING.

To effectively communicate and transfer knowledge, a teacher must understand that each student is unique in the way they learn. The textbook delves into three factors that affect learning in students. These are cognitive styles, learning styles, and intelligence. Cognitive style describes how a student thinks. One of the most commonly used personality assessment tool to measure cognitive styles is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This instrument divides a student's preferences into four sets of opposing groups: extrovert and introvert, sensing and intuitive, thinking and feeling, and judging and perceiving. Through this assessment, each student is placed into one of sixteen categories, each with a unique signature. Intelligence is the student’s ability to learn. Howard Garner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences, which provides for the belief that the concept of intelligence is better defined through the nine different aspects of intelligence that each student possesses. Every student possesses, to a differing degree, each of the following intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematics, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and existential.

The third factor is learning styles. While there are numerous models, such as Kolb's Model, the Sudbury Model, or Anthony Gregorc's Model, our textbook uses the VAK, or Modality theory. This theory states that every student's learning style is based on sensory preferences. It divides students into three modalities: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. Kinesthetic is often referred to as tactile. Every student uses all three modalities to varying degrees; however, one or two are dominant. The dominant modality indicates which method of teaching is the best way for a student to learn. Visual students learn best by seeing, auditory students learn best by listening, while kinesthetic students learn best with hands-on activities. Obviously the odds of a classroom having students all falling into one category is infinitesimal. Therefore advocates of this theory believe that teachers must use all three senses in each lesson.

Auditory learners often talk to themselves, move their lips and read out loud. They may have difficulty with reading and writing tasks. They often do better talking to another student or using a tape recorder. Lectures are effective with these students. Another effective tool is to have them verbalize the questions. Teachers should use auditory activities, such as brainstorming in their lessons. Visual learners prefer the written language, such as reading and writing tasks. They remember what has been written down, even if they do not read it more than once. Using graphs, charts, illustrations, or other visual aids are effective with these students. Teachers should use outlines, concept maps, agendas, and handouts for reading and taking notes. Kinesthetic or tactile learners do best while touching and moving. They tend to lose concentration if there is little or no external stimulation or movement. Using activities that get the learners up and moving are best with these students. Teachers should use colored markers to emphasize key points on flipcharts, overheads or white boards.