Learning styles and teaching: Recognizing Similarities and Differences Presented by Cheryl Henningsgaard, Nick Johnson, and Dianna Babcock

Quote of the Day: You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be… Marianne Williamson

Four Main Learning Styles Visual Visual learners prefer the use of images, maps, and graphic organizers to access and understand new information. Auditory Auditory learners best understand new content through listening and speaking in situations such as lectures and group discussions. Aural learners use repetition as a study technique and benefit from the use of mnemonic devices. Read & Write Students with a strong reading/writing preference learn best through words. These students may present themselves as copious note takers or avid readers, and are able to translate abstract concepts into words and essays. Kinesthetic Students who are kinesthetic learners best understand information through tactile representations of information. These students are hands-on learners and learn best through figuring things out by hand (i.e. understanding how a clock works by putting one together.)

Our eyes tell our story…

Words tell our story, too Visual Learners- describe experiences with words like: See, colorful, get the picture, hazy… Auditory learners- describe experiences with words like: Sounds like, speak, volume, harmonize, shout… Kinesthetic learners- describe experiences with words like: Warm, excited, smooth, made contact with… Read and Write learners- Describe experiences with words like: Read, comprehend…

Identify Your Learning Style(s) VARK Learning Styles Questionnaire- 5 minutes to complete on your own 10 minutes to share results with a friend Did your results surprise you? *Statement- As musicians we tend to be more auditory so how do we work with a society that has become more visual due to technology???*

Share your Wisdom: Small Group: Share ways you identify and target learning styles in your students Consider individual lessons, group classes, online, etc. Share strategies you implement to successfully engage and assist in your student’s learning based on their specific learning styles

Whole group discussion Each Small Group- Pick one strategy to identify learning styles in your students and share with larger group Pick one teaching strategy you use to engage individual learning styles (pick at least one learning style to address) and share with larger group

Questions and Further Discussion

Ending Thought…