Teaching to Different Learning Styles
On November 7, 2008, Dr. Donna McCaw from Educational Leadership moderated a fun and energetic C.H.A.T. session regarding tools and tips for understanding students' learning styles. The discussion included how an understanding of learning styles can affect the decisions and methods you choose in the classroom.
Highlights and Points of Discussion I. Why learn about learning styles?
25% of freshmen fail or end on academic probation...why?
Students deal with many distractions and may not have mastered learning how to learn well.
An understanding of learning styles can aid study skills and lead to more success in the classroom for students.
For teachers, it is important to be aware of student learning styles and to provide whole brain and multimodal activities that appeal to diverse learners.
II. Brain Research - Left, Right and Whole Brain Dominance
Left brain learners are more rational, logical, and analytical. Left brain learners prefer to write and talk and solve problems by breaking items apart.
Right brain learners are more holistic, intuitive and spontaneous. Right brain learners prefer to handle objects and to engage in creative activity.
Whole brain learners move easily between left and right brain activities. Less than 5% of the population is whole brain.
How much of our teaching reflects a balance in teaching to BOTH hemispheres?
Try the Chatterbean Learning Styles Inventory below to test your own hemisphericity.
III. Neurolinguistic Code (Four Languages of Learning)
The four languages of learning are Auditory (sound), Visual (images), Kinesthetic (movement) and Tactile (feelings).
Auditory learners prefer to talk when they learn. They like discussion, storytelling, music, and reading texts out loud.
Visual learners prefer to use visual materials when they learn. They like color, illustrations and maps, and watch body language for meaning.
Tactile learners prefer to learn through relationships. They like social learning activities and methods that appeal to their emotions and feelings.
Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn through movement. They prefer hands-on instruction and activities that use the whole body.
Try the Learning Styles Online assessment to find out your dominant learning language.
IV. Planning Activities for Different Learning Styles
For the remainder of the CHAT session, groups brainstormed classroom methods and activities that might appeal to different brain-neurolinguistic combinations (e.g., Right Brain - Tactile). The goal is to design multi-modal activities that engage more than one learning style.
Handouts and Resources
