IT645 Chptr 1 1-B Different Learning Styles

Learning styles are simply different approaches or ways of learning. I think everyone has multiple learning styles. Sometimes I am very visual and tactile when dealing with my arts and crafts. Other times, I am focused on academics and I tend to be more auditory and verbal. Some students learn better when studying in low light, while others need bright light. It is important to explore how you best perform and use that as a guideline for success. I also think that as we grow and change so can our learning styles. It is therefore, a good idea to re-evaluate yourself if you find that personal goals you have set for yourself are not being met.
When in an academic classroom scenario as a student, I am a better auditory learner. I like to listen, evaluate and decide how I feel about the topic. Other times when I am the teacher, I work hard at searching for visual emphasis and tactile examples to support what I may have discovered from my learning in a traditional setting.
I remember being in the third grade and having a problem visualizing how to learn to subtract roman numerals. I stayed after school and the teacher went over key points repeatedly. I could not visualize what she was saying. Sometimes later, another teacher was reviewing the same lesson using showing the hand manipulative and I got it. It seemed so simple.
Sometimes you need to teach the same objectives using all the different learning styles. This is time consuming and it may require you building a database of ideas that you add to each year. Eventually, you acquire several teaching strategies to demonstrate a single objective. What makes sense to one child, may not mean anything to another child. When I am being creative, I throw logic to the wind, and opposite is true when I am being logical.
I think everyone has multiple learning styles. My concern, as an educator, is that you don’t teach using your own preferences. It is important use all of Gardener’s styles in teaching. It is important to meet the needs of the students – that’s a true professional. A teacher that can connect with all personalities in a class is a great communicator. I think coaches are so successful with athletics because the see special talents and they now how to motivate (uncover) those talents. The same has to be true of the student in a classroom. We motivate students by making them feel comfortable with who they are.