I can see some light at the end of the tunnel.... Now that the pressure of handing in in time my project is over, things seem much easier.
However, during this week we have been dealing with different learning styles. As I have posted in one of my comments on Nicenet, the teacher's job is getting more and more demanding as he has to identify and cater for his learners' learning styles. Research has to offer a lot in this field and a variety of sources and tools are at a (willing!) teacher's dispposal so as to implement this shift of teaching towards as many learning styles as possible.
I liked a lot (because it is colourful and easy for the students to understand) this link: http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/ . It's a quiz which I intend to give to my students at the beginning of the school year in order to identify their learning styles. Then (the hardest part) I will need to adapt my teaching methods so as ti include all learning styles.. Is this possible? So far, I have managed to include the kinaesthetic, auditory and visual learners as I use lots of songs where students dance, move, sing, and PPTs which make it easy for visual learners to learn and understand new notions. Furthermore, reading the assigned texts has shown to me that there are different classifications (in name mostly) of learning styles made by different researchers. Thus, we have the "classic" Gardner classification and,now, according to Montgomery and Groat (http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/CRLT_no10.pdf), Myers-Briggs, Kolb and Felder-Silverman have provided us with more analysis of the learning modes. Thus, now, we have a whole list of styles to deal with! I have found 3 pictures which I consider very good for keeping in mind how learners learn:
Our realization that every potential learner comes into the classroom with his/her personal learning style, makes the shift towards a learner centered teaching much more immediate and necessary. I would like to end this post by quoting Montgomery and Groat's words (adapted by Randall et al.): "Acknowledgement can be empowering for students if they can be made aware of their preferred learning style(s) and assisted in stretching their capabilities to accomodate greater variety".
Hi Georgia!
ReplyDeleteI hope it is not only you who see the light at the end of the tunnel but all of us. The light we see should be a new better world that we can live in with the knowledge, skills, practices, experience, and cooperation we all have when we were in the tunnel.
The charts that you show clarify my understanding about the learning style. Thank you.
Hermanto
These charts are really helpful to me as well Hermanto, that's why I've added them here! As for the light, I guess after this seminar, we will definitely be able to see a better world!
DeleteHi Georgia,
ReplyDeleteThis is really a leaner's world, so we still learn how to teach different types of students.As your end of the quote, is that mean students could get every styles of learning?
I think that is somehow like a Utopia, although as a teacher I usually want my kids could learn well in different area.How would you think about this idea?Thanks for your sharing.
Justin
This is what the author means but, like you, I believe it's a Utopia. Still, it's worth trying to help develop in our students at least one more learning style as this will lead to their better development. Thank you for commenting!
DeleteHello Georgia!
ReplyDeleteWell, I am glad to say both of us see the light now! :)
Thanks for the tip of the online test to see which learning style our students are. I wanted to do the same and now I have found a great link, thanks!
Keep in touch!
Jess
Hey Jess!
ReplyDeleteI managed to find an online test which I did in the past as part of another online seminar. It uses a bit more complicated language and its results are really accurate (at least it described my learning styles correctly!). In case you find some time, check it out:
http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html
I have just tried the link you suggested and I am satisfied with the results. My top three intelligences according to this website are Logic/math, Musical and Social which is exactly what I thought. Thank you for the link, I will definitely bookmark it :)
ReplyDeleteMarija
I am like you Mary!! Musical and socila are my 2 strong points!! (I don't remember the third though...) Glad you liked it!
DeleteHi, Georgia!
ReplyDeleteYour post concerning the different learning styles is so detailed. I truly think that you liked this subject, just like all the others that preceded it :) I agree with you that we, as teachers, should take absolutely everything in consideration before planning our lessons. What interests us is how well the students have assimilated the new material, and everything should be done to facilitate this process.
Thank you for your warm words concerning my project. From what I have seen, our class did a very good job on the whole. I think all of us did their best. Just like you I hope that sharing ideas won't stop with our classes here. We should definitely keep in touch as there is nothing better than to share experiences and thus enrich your own.
My warmest wishes from Moldova (though I am in Roumania now :)
Vicky
You’re right everyday the teacher’s work is becoming more demanding, I thing is because our world is becoming more and more complex, and our students need to fit in this world, and learn from us how to thrive there out.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of apply the survey to the students, (actually I am working on something like that) and as you I find very hard to achieve the correct activities for the students.
By the way the pictures you post are great, thanks for sharing with us, great to know you’re relax too at this day, greetings, and please keep in touch, from time to time.
Thanks Georgia, greetings
poncho
Hi, Georgia! I am very glad to collaborate with you!
ReplyDeleteI admired your ideas and solutions!
I wish all the best in your life!
I hope we continue our communication.
Svetlana