1. Using Technology in the Classroom
Gary G. Bitter & Jane M. Legacy
Chapter 6
Learning Styles
You have probably noticed that when you try to learn something new that you prefer to learn by listening to someone talk to you about the information. Some people prefer to read about a concept to learn it; others need to see a demonstration of the concept. Learning Style Theory proposes that different people learn in different ways and that it is good to know what your own preferred learning style is
Your learning style is the way you prefer to learn. It doesn't have anything to do with how intelligent you are or what skills you have learned. It has to do with how your brain works most efficiently to learn new information. Your learning style has been with you since you were born. There's no such thing as a "good" learning style or a "bad" learning style. Success comes with many different learning styles. There is no "right" approach to learning. We all have our own particular way of learning new information. The important thing is to be aware of the nature of your learning style. If you are aware of how your brain best learns, you have a better chance of studying in a way that will pay off when it's time to take that dreaded exam.
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VARK Learning Styles V A R K
Visual
Aural
Read/Write
Kinesthetic
Your VARK preferences can be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning
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Study Practices
Select your particular preference(s) to see how you should:
Take in information to perform well and learn effectively
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4. Appealing to Visual Learners
Teachers must keep in mind that visual learners are interested in color, layout, and design.
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5. Visual Study Strategies
Textbooks with diagrams and pictures
Highlight & Underline
Remembering the format material is presented in
Pictures, posters, slides
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6. Appealing to Aural Learners
As teachers, we must remember that students are going to remember the funny stories, jokes, and examples we give them. Aural learners are listening.
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Aural Study Practices
Prefer to have everything explained to them versus reading it for themselves
Discuss topics with teachers & others
Use a tape recorder
Describe the lesson to someone who wasn’t there
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8. Appealing to Read/Write Learners
These learners will be happier with each new handout they receive from their teacher. Appeal to these learners by turning visuals such as diagrams, charts or illustrations into words.
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9. Read/Write Study Strategies
Create lists using headings
Write out definitions
Read and write your notes repeatedly
Review the text
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10. Appealing to Kinesthetic Learners
Provide your kinesthetic learners with opportunities for “hands on” learning. They need to experience the lesson in order for them to understand it. Try using case studies to illustrate the main points of the lesson.
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11. Kinesthetic Study Strategies
Remember what you sensed around you at the time of the lesson (ie. sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing)
Recall
field trips
experiments
trial and error
Hands-on approaches
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12. Multimodal Preferences
You have multiple preferences
50% - 75% of the population fits in this group
Some people have equal preferences for all 4 modes due to adapting to the mode being used or requested
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13. Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Based on the MBTI® Instrument
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14. Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Our personality plays an important part in determining our learning style.
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Dimensions
Extroversion vs. Introversion
Sensing vs. Intuition
Thinking vs. Feeling
Judging vs. Perceptive
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16. Introversion vs. Extroversion
“This indicates whether a learner prefers to direct attention towards the external world of people and things or toward the internal world of concepts and ideas. This preference tells us from where people get their energy.”
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17. Introversion vs. Extroversion
Find energy in the inner world of ideas, concepts, and abstractions
Want to relate new information to old
Reflective thinkers
Prefer interaction with others, action-oriented
Talk more than listen
Learn by teaching others
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Sensing vs. Intuition
“This indicates whether a learner prefers to perceive the world by directly observing the surrounding reality or through impressions and imagining possibilities.”
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Sensing vs. Intuition
Rely on their 5 senses
Detail-oriented
Learners prefer organized, linear, and structured lectures
Step-by-step learning
Innovative thinkers
Trust hunches and look for “big picture”
Learners prefer concept maps and compare and contrast tables
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Thinking vs. Feeling
“This indicates how the learner makes decisions, either through logic or by using fairness and human values.”
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Thinking vs. Feeling
Value fairness
Logical, straight-forward thinkers
Prefer clear goal and objectives
Value harmony by focusing on human values to make decisions or judgments
Persuasive and good mediators
Enjoy small group exercises
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Judging vs. Perceptive
“This indicates how the learner views the world, either as a structured and planned environment or as a spontaneous environment.”
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Judging vs. Perceptive
Decisive, self-starters
Focus on completing the task
Can be encouraged by offering self-improvement
Deadline oriented
Curious, adaptable, and spontaneous
Postpone doing assignments
Breaking down complex projects will help keep them on target
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24. Tapping Into Multiple Intelligences
Based on Howard Gardner’s Theory
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What Is Intelligence?
Utilizing newly acquired knowledge to resolve problems or conflicts to improve a situation.
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Who is Howard Gardner?
Claims that all humans have multiple intelligences which can be nurtured and strengthened or ignored and weakened.
He believes each individual has nine intelligences.
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The 9 Intelligences:
Verbal-Linguistic
Mathematical-Logical
Musical
Visual-Spatial
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalist
Existential
1 Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence -- well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the sounds, meanings and rhythms of words
2 Mathematical-Logical Intelligence -- ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns
Musical Intelligence -- ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch and timber
Visual-Spatial Intelligence -- capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence -- ability to control one's body movements and to handle objects skillfully
6 Interpersonal Intelligence -- capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations and desires of others.
Intrapersonal Intelligence -- capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner feelings, values, beliefs and thinking processes
Naturalist Intelligence -- ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature
9 Existential Intelligence -- sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here.
Based on his study of many people from many different walks of life in everyday circumstances and professions, Gardner developed the theory of multiple intelligences. He performed interviews with and brain research on hundreds of people, including stroke victims, prodigies, autistic individuals, and so-called "idiot savants."
According to Gardner,
All human beings possess all nine intelligences in varying amounts.
Each person has a different intellectual composition.
We can improve education by addressing the multiple intelligences of our students.
These intelligences are located in different areas of the brain and can either work independently or together.
These intelligences may define the human species.
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Theory Concepts:
All human beings possess all nine intelligences in varying amounts.
Each person has a different intellectual composition.
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30. How can applying M.I. theory help students learn better?
Students begin to understand in what ways they are intelligent.
Identify their strengths
We can improve education by addressing the multiple intelligences of our students.
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31. Understanding the Balance
When students understand the balance of their own multiple intelligences they begin:
To manage their own learning
To value their individual strengths
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32. To Help Understand How Students Learn Best
Take a Multiple Intelligences Self-Inventory.
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33. Applying MI in the Classroom
Teachers are creating lesson plans specifically geared towards addressing the multiple intelligences of their students.
Students may demonstrate understanding through multiple intelligence activities.
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Classroom Activities
Group discussion
Verbal-Linguistic; Interpersonal
Journal writing
Intrapersonal; Verbal/Linguistic
Constructing timelines
- Logical-Mathematical; Visual-Spatial
Making a video
Logical-Mathematical, Musical-Rhythmic; Verbal/Linguistic; Interpersonal; Visual-Spatial
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35. Classroom Activities (Cont.)
Writing a report or essay
Verbal-Linguistic
Making graphs
Logical-Mathematical; Visual-Spatial
Designing posters
Verbal-Linguistic, Visual-Spatial
Communicating with experts online
Verbal-Linguistic; Interpersonal
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Classroom Activities
Hands-on experimentation
Kinesthetic; Logical/Mathematical
Composing a song
Musical/Rhythmic; Verbal-Linguistic
Building a model or 3-D displays
Kinesthetic; Logical-Mathematical
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37. Does MI Curriculum Measure Up to State and National Standards?
Students may represent their understanding and knowledge of the topic being studied in a number of ways using M.I.
The goal is to maximize both understanding and self-esteem for students to perform better on standardized tests.
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38. Keys to Curriculum Structure and Lesson Planning
It is important to teach subject matter through a variety of activities and projects.
Assessments should be integrated into learning.
It is counterproductive to label students with a particular intelligence.
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39. Implementation Exercises
Learning Centers
Simulations
Presentations
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Learning Centers
Reading/Writing Center
(Verbal/Linguistic; Visual/Spatial; Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Intelligences)
Illustration/Visual Expression Center
(Visual/Spatial; Intrapersonal Intelligences)
Science/Experiment Center
(Logical/Mathematical, Naturalist, Visual/Spatial Intelligences)
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41. Learning Centers (Conclusion)
Math Center
(Logical/Mathematical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal Intelligences)
Build It/Paint It Center
(Visual/Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Logical/Mathematical Intelligences)
Performance Center
(Visual/Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal)
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Simulations
“Simulation Activities help develop students' intelligences by allowing them to experiment with real-world activities.”
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Simulations
Role-Playing
Debating
Students get a chance to support their responses
Simulation Software
SimCity & Virtus Walk Through
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Presentations
Students must understand
The material
The audience
Public speaking
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45. Multiple Intelligence Lesson Plans
Lesson plans are the blueprints of teaching
Including more than 3 intelligences in an activity does not provide greater benefit.
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Lesson Plan
Topic
Goals/Objectives
Available Time (days, weeks, class periods)
Assessment Options
Supplies
Introducing the Topic
Plan for using “Using Learning Centers”
Plan for Using Simulations
Plan for Using Presentations
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The Components
Topic
What is subject matter you are teaching?
Goals/Objectives
What do you want students to learn?
Available Time
How many periods?
Assessment Options
How will you know if students understand?
Supplies
What will you need to have on hand to complete the lesson?
Introducing the Topic
Attention getter/ Focus
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48. Benefits of Using MI in the Classroom
Providing opportunities for authentic learning based on your students' needs, interests and talents.
Parent and community involvement may increase.
Students will demonstrate and share their strengths.
Teaching for understanding
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Countless educators have incorporated multiple intelligence theory into their work.
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50. Putting the Styles Together
Remember that no single measurement of style ensures that a learner’s needs will be met.
It is more important to build an adaptable learning environment that presents the material in a variety of methods than try to determine each learners personal style.
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51. Recognizing Your Own Style
Ensures you do not unintentionally force one learning style upon your learners.
The more styles you address, the easier the instruction will be received by the learners.
Material presented in a variety of methods keeps the learners interested and reinforces itself.
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What’s My Style?
Teaching Style Surveys:
Learning Style Surveys:
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