Learning Styles In Depth May 12, 2015

Agenda 2. KWL Chart – What do you want to know, what you wonder, and what you learned. 3. Overview of “learning” and concepts behind learning. 4. Review of the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) 5. Strategies Card Activity and Demonstrations 6. Debrief Discussion 1. Introductions 7. Assessment and Goodbyes (to watch the Warriors)!

What is “Learning”? It’s Effort and Not Always Easy: “Learning is deeper and more durable when it’s effortful. Learning that’s easy is like writing in sand, here today and gone tomorrow” (3). It’s Not the Most Commonly Used Study Technique: “We are poor judges of when we are learning well and when we’re not…we are drawn to strategies that feel more fruitful” (3). For instance, reading and re-reading. It’s Biological and Growth-Minded: “But every time you learn something new, you change the brain – the residue of your experiences is stored” (7). From Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Brown, Roediger III, and McDaniel.

The “Habit Loop” Adapted from The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.

The Student “Habit Loop” Adapted from The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. Routine: Self- Quiz Reward: Remember and Recall Cue: Student Gets Readings

What is “Learning”? From Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Brown, Roediger III, and McDaniel. Yes, we have preferences for how we like to learn new materials. However, the idea that if you are taught in your learning style you will learn better is false and “not supported by empirical research” (145). The key is to go wide and draw on multiple forms of intelligences to constantly reinforce what you are learning in multiple ways.

Review: What the ILS is Not Not an assessment of strengths or weaknesses – it’s a profile of preferences Not an either/or – it’s a spectrum It’s not fixed - you’re not stuck in one part of the spectrum FOREVER. It’s not meant to box people into a certain communication/tutoring style. “You are a visual learner. Let’s just watch YouTube videos for the entire hour because that’s what you people do.” Adapted from Application, Reliability, and Validity of Index of Learning Styles by Felder and Spurlin.

Review: ILS Approaches The topic of learning styles is a conversation starter and a standing appointment session starter. Habits associated with parts of each spectra are tools in your tutor/human being toolbox to approach a variety of situations and people. The ILS is a guide to help students practice “non-preferred” learning styles. The topic of learning styles is also a way to talk about study skills.

Strategies Cards Activity 7 Minutes: In pairs, group the Strategies Cards by learning preference. 2 Minutes: Circulate and observe other groups categorizations – what are the similarities and what are the differences? 7 Minutes: With your partner, come up with a “demo” of two strategies you can use in one session. One strategy could be a tutees’ learning preference and one may be a “learning stretch.” 2 Minutes (each pair): Demo the activity to the group and explain why you chose the two activities.