Residents as Teachers Loyola University Medical Center Stritch School of Medicine Graduate Medical Education Session 3B

Incorporating Learning Styles Into Your Teaching

Adult Learning Theory Adult learners (and probably all learners) learn best through interactive, learner-centered teaching focused on their self-defined learning goals Understanding your own style of learning and those of others can help you be a more effective teacher Wilkerson LA, Irby DM. Strategies for improving teaching practices: a comprehensive approach to faculty development. Academic Med 1998; 73:

What Kind of Learner Are You? Read each statement and DON’T OVERTHINK IT. Doing & Watching Thinking & Feeling Take the high score from each section to determine your preferred learning style Survey adapted from: survey.html

What Kind of Learner Are You? If you prefer Watching and Feeling then you are a reflector: They like to view situations from various perspectives. They like to collect and review data carefully before coming to a conclusion. If you prefer Watching and Thinking then you are a theorist: They want to understand the theory behind the action. Tend to be perfectionists.

What Kind of Learner Are You? If you prefer Doing and Thinking then you are a pragmatist: They are eager to try new things. They need to see how to put their learning into practice. If you prefer Doing and Feeling then you are an activist: They are enthusiastic, tend to act first and think later, and learn by doing.

How you learn is based on past learning experiences and preferences You will learn best by using all four styles, rather than your preferred learning style Consider this when you are teaching

Incorporating Learning Styles Into Your Teaching Consider your learner Would they better respond to one style, or are they a mix? Whole concepts or details Text or pictures Learning by doing or incorporating knowledge before acting Understand the theory before acting, or just acting

Incorporating Learning Styles Into Your Teaching Consider your style It is typically also your predominant teaching style Being aware of how you learn will open you up to further development as a teacher

Incorporating Learning Styles Into Your Teaching Expand your comfort zone Be flexible and responsive to the setting and topic. Blend materials and methods. Be an all around learner who adapts to the learning experience. Be versatile

Staffordshire Teaching Styles The all-around, flexible and adaptable teacher Uses many different teaching activities, just as comfortable teaching juniors as they are their peers, very aware of how the environment impacts teachers and learners The sensitive, student-centered teacher Prefers small-group teaching, with emotions at the forefront, informal style, uses role play, not comfortable with formal presentations Mohanna et al. Postgrad Med J 2007; 83:

Staffordshire Teaching Styles The official, formal curriculum teacher Very well-prepared, teaches to the formal curriculum, aware of goals/objectives, follows externally defined rules and guidelines for their teaching sessions The straight facts, no nonsense teacher Enjoys teaching well-defined facts, concentrates on specific skills with very straight/clear talking, does not enjoy multi-disciplinary teaching or learning Mohanna et al. Postgrad Med J 2007; 83:

Staffordshire Teaching Styles The big conference teacher Enjoys being in front of a big audience, prefers this over 1:1 or group teaching sessions The one-off teacher Enjoys teaching small portions of information, often ad hoc and in small groups or 1:1, without props or aides. Often little follow-up after teaching Mohanna et al. Postgrad Med J 2007; 83:

Take-Home Points Which Teaching Styles Describe You? Reflect on your strengths Think of real-world ways you display these strengths Capitalize on them! None of us is just one of these styles Being aware of how others learn is the key to effective teaching