However, as long as the educator is aware of their student's style preferences, is it necessary for the learner to know and understand their preferences?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.
Bryan
Monday, May 31, 2010
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Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI will say yes it is important and necessary for the learner to know and understand their preference. It may be just as important as the educator understanding learning styles. Think about getting a teacher who may understand learning styles but is burned out and really doesn't care if the student gets it or not. In that case if my teacher were not helping me to succeed I would want to be able to understand and know what strategies I could use to better understand the material and learn the information. That way if the things he or she is doing doesn't go with my style I could adapt what is being presented to something that would make since for me. I think the learners who don't understand what type of learning style they have may feel that they aren't smart enough or just can't comprehend the material when in fact they can they just don't know how to unscramble all that information.
I one hundred percent agree with Tom's the last statement:
ReplyDelete"I think the learners who don't understand what type of learning style they have may feel that they aren't smart enough or just can't comprehend the material when in fact they can they just don't know how to unscramble all that information."
I can't tell you how many learners I have come across who automatically think they were not smart enough for a particular class. Some of those folks even went so far as to drop out of a class. In my observation, a common assumption adult learners make is they assume it cannot be the material or the instructor if some students are doing well in the class. It is important to develop an understanding of learning styles because the knowledge can be used as a tool. Once a person has been exposed to learning styles, they can continue the cycle of learning. I think students, armed with the knowledge of learning styles, might be less likely to drop out of a class and start employing methods that compliment their own learning style in order to fully understand the topic or material.
I too think it is important for both the instructor and learner to try to at least gain some insight to the different learning styles... not that every subject can be taught using every learning style, but if a student comes to us outside of class, it is our job to maybe find another way to explain it to them - utilizing a different learning/teaching style. I had a student who had a student who just could not seem to get it or explain it when it came to essay questions on her tests. Finally, one day he held her after and asked the question in another way, and she was, verbally, able to give an excellent answer - there was something about hearing the question and then being able to respond verbally that helped that student excel.
ReplyDeleteSo, for students like that, it is then up to us, as educators, to maybe find ways, within reason, to help them succeed and excel... so they don't get left behind and they enjoy their education.