With regards to teaching and learning, it is important as Learning Managers that we understand our students and their learning styles. To better understand how students learn, it is necessary to know and understand our own personal learning styles.
After completing a learning styles quiz, which can be found at http://www.learning-styles-online.com/inventory, it was determined that my learning style was definitely a social style with 20 out of a possible score of 20, indicating that this is the style that I use often. The following graph represents my learning style in a visual manner, clearly showing the lean towards the Social style.
Whilst reading through the characteristics of this style, it was interesting that I was able to mentally tick off most of the traits mentioned as they related to me personally. This information highlighted the fact that I communicate well with others, often have people coming to me for advice, listen well and understand other people's views, prefer learning in groups or classes and like to spend one-on-one time with the teacher, prefer social activities then doing things alone and enjoy sports and games involving other people.
Whats fascinating is that teaching is one of the pursuits that people with a strong social style follow which is what I am currently studying at the moment.
With this learning style in mind, it is important to examine how these type of students best learn and how to cater for them. As a social learner, the aim is to work with other people as much as possible. The use of mind maps, role plays and diagrams may also assist learners.
The importance of understanding learning styles and their impact on the teaching and learning process is paramount to ensuring success in the classroom. It is key that Learning Manager realises that the classroom is filled with diverse learners and ensures that they cater for these in their learning experiences.
I think you have made a really good point, Danielle. I agree that our own personal experiences with learning are important for considering how children learn and the types of learning experiences we will provide for them. For example, I have always been an effective speaker and auditory learner, therefore, English and Art were always my most successful subjects because I was able to talk about my ideas with the teacher and my peers.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to recognising children's learning styles and catering for these, I also think that we should be fostering the development of other styles and intelligences as well. This is due to the fact that, in life, we are required to utilise different methods for accessing information and interacting with other people and tasks.
I think that recognising the different learning styles of children and using this knowledge to inform your practice is a great thing however we can't simply rely on these internet quizzes in order to gain this knowledge. It is useful to do it at the start of the year maybe to give you a basic idea until we know develop a greater understanding of our class however no matter how hard we try not all children are going to take it seriously and answer honestly. We must take the time to learn these through personal experience and our own knowledge of the children we are teaching.
ReplyDeleteI think you have both put forward excellent ideas. Kyle, I strongly agree that we need to develop all styles of learning, especially the ones that students are lacking to ensure more well rounded learners who are able to adapt to different situations. I also find what you have said Stepf as a valid point. I believe that these quizzes should only be used as a guide to support the teachers own observations and reflections.
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