Theory of Learning Styles
Click on the following link to access an article on Learning Styles on Vanderbilt University’s website. Read the article and record your response to the following questions in the comment section.
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/learning-styles-preferences/
Questions for reflection:
What are some of the important points the article makes?
How have your views or beliefs on the concept of Learning Styles changed?
How will your changed views or beliefs impact your classroom practice?
What steps will you take to reconcile and integrate your new learnings from the session and the article on how people learn with your existing ideas?
There is no one perfect way of learning.How we learn depends a lot on what we are learning. How meaningful and useful it is to us. Everyone's approach to learning is based on a complex mix of strengths and preferences. We absorb and apply new concepts, skills and information in different ways at different times. Individuals learning method will be different in different situations and likely change over time. ( Eileen Carnell and Caroline Lodge, Effective learning). Analysing our thinking ( metacognition) can help us to plan learning strategies.
ReplyDeleteGayatri Mehta
The article very well answered to my question, “Why do we have theories that support the myth of learning styles?”
ReplyDeleteThe article busts the myth about the popular idea of “learning styles” which labels each learner as per their preference of learning like visual, auditory, kinesthetic style. Despite having no evidence supporting these learning styles, they are widely accepted as they assume that each learner is different which makes it socially popular. These styles are loosely based on the concept of metacognition. Metacognition involves various approaches to knowledge however unlike learning styles, it does not recommend any sole approach.
My views on the concept of learning styles have changed significantly as I used to believe that each learner learns in a particular way due to which we need to adopt different approaches to teach as per the learner’s preference.
As mentioned in the article, the approach depends on the content of the lesson being learned and not the learner, I would look for the methods that are best fit for my language classroom. For example: while teaching alphabets I would prefer listening activities as it would help the learners to hear the pronunciations similarly for teaching colors the activities involving visual senses would be apt.
With the existing ideas, I often categorize the learners as some learners are good with the auditory senses (listening activities) whereas others benefit with visual activities however after having understood the myth of learning styles, I would integrate the strategies based on the concept of metacognition rather than learning styles.
I learned that the same teaching- learning method or style can not be adopted for all subjects. We should adopt different method or style for different subjects. For example, writing-reading for language and history, watching for geography, learning by doing for science and sculpture, listening and doing for music, etc.
ReplyDeleteEarlier I used to think that the method of learning that I like, will be liked by others and what I do not like will not be liked by others. Now I have learned that this is not the case. The method of learning that I like may not be liked by others. They may prefer to learn through a different method.
We will use different learning and teaching styles/ method in the classroom to make it easy to learn.
In my teaching-learning process, I will adopt a multi-dimensional pedagogy like reading, writing, speaking, listening, problem-solving, use of modern technology and will encourage student's participation.
The article states some of the important points and key factors related to learning styles. It clearly states that though there are multiple theories revolving around the concept of learning styles which are widely acknowledged, there is no clear evidence to support the idea. The reason why these theories are recognised is that people believe categorising individuals will help order social environment and differentiate easily to make them stand out from the crowd. Teaching and learning can be widely attributed to conceptualisation based on the nature of discipline without limiting the potential abilities of the learners.
ReplyDeleteI believe that earlier our perceptions played a role in designing the learning objectives. I believed that it was easier to narrow down on the teaching learning objectives by listing students in various learning styles. This perception has changed now. I believe each individual is different and listing them probably takes away their opportunities to explore different methods of learning and understanding.
I will definitely work on have a better structured goal including the reframed teaching learning objectives. It will be more student oriented and would cater to their needs. I will adopt more advanced and enhanced methods and approach focusing equally on individual mindsets.
I will implement new learning strategies and make sure that I achieve different results. I will create a new action plan and review my goals. It will include fresh eye perspective I will undertake self assessment and feedback sessions to understand whether I am able to reach my goals or adopt varied methods to reach optimum results.
First and foremost, the article busts the myth about the popular idea that learning styles exist, and it's simply the subject and the content one is teaching, one prefers to use a particular learning style.
ReplyDeleteStudents have different approaches as to how they process information. Students preferred learning modes have significant influence on their behaviour and learning. Information that is accessed through student's use of their modality preferences shows an increase in their levels of comprehension, motivation and metacognition.
Depending on the content to be taught, I would look for options that will best fit my biology classroom.For example, if I am teaching a process, Diagrammatic representation of the same would enhance the content being taught.
I would incorporate metacognition instead of learning styles.