Do you believe the assessment of learning styles lead to instruction that serves students better? Why or why not?
This subject was brought up during my summer semester and my views of learning styles have changed because of the research and readings. I always heard and thought of learning styles as an extremely important aspect of the classroom and that it was very important for the teacher to teach to these different styles. However, I now believe that as research shows we don't have learning styles, but we can all learn better if we are interested in what we are learning. I love the statement Heather Wolpert-Gawron makes in her article, it is not about the research but whether or not the teachers do what is necessary to engage all students.
I learn in a variety of different ways, and I know that when I am interested in something I am even better at learning it or understanding it. So I believe that assessing a learning style to each student only serves to limit that student. Instead of focusing on what these styles are we should teach to engage the students to want to learn, as a teacher we learn who a child is and how that child works best but all ways of instruction should be presented.
So, what do you think? Are teachers doing a disservice to the profession when they use strategies that aren't research based? Where does research fit into the day-to-day lives of teachers? Should teachers care about research? In your experience, do they care about research?Research, where we would be without it? I don't think teachers are doing a disservice for using a strategy that is not research based, but the expectations of the strategy might be under the microscope a little more than a researched strategy. Teachers should us a variation of strategies so that they can best conform to the classroom. Research has been done to better the learning environment, the classroom set-up, and much more, so even if a teacher says they don't listen to research, they probably do. The standards and expectations of a given teacher and classroom are based on research, so teachers should care about research, they don't always have to agree on it but research is a way of life and if the teacher doesn't have the right classroom standards they could lose their job. In my experience some teachers care about it, I would say more teachers care than what most people think, the research is what has gotten us to evolve our ways of teaching and understanding. Teachers don't explain things in the terms of..."well research shows that so and so works if we do this....so that is what we are doing" they read and absorb what they think will work for them in the setting they are currently faced with and make modifications based on what they know.
Do you agree or disagree with the following excerpt from the Landrum & McDuffie (2010) article, “It is wise to individualize instruction. Differentiation provides one framework for individualizing in the context of a heterogeneous classroom. Focusing on students’ learning styles adds little, if anything, of educational benefit to this process.”I do agree, having a child that is AIG, and then having a child that has LD with speech I can see the importance of differentiation within the classroom. If we focus a learning style on a child and ask them to only present information to us in the way that we believe he or she works best we are limiting that child to only that style. I enjoyed watching this video on differentiation, and I believe that this is very important in the classroom. By varying instruction we are meeting the individual needs of all students, according to Tomlinson.
Tracie, You make a really good point with your blog about how if you are interested in the subject you will be able to learn about it no matter what way it is taught. Unlike you I believe teachers should learn and use the different teaching styles but I get were you are coming from because I know there are certain things that I learn better certain ways. Like with sports learning new plays I need to do it but learning about things such as history I need to read about or watch something about it. As a teacher I will make sure to use many types of learning styles that way all my students feel that they can understand the subject. I really enjoyed watching the video you posted along with your blog :)
ReplyDeleteJust like you, I had always heard that there were different learning styles. I found the Ted Ed video to be interesting. Honestly, I was glad to hear this. For me it reaffirms that as teachers we can do our best to present the information in various ways knowing that all students should be able to learn and are not restricted to a certain style.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is important to engage all students and that students learn better when they are learning about something that they are interested in. I feel that at this point,this is where the magic happens...making all subject content interesting. If the teacher can somehow make even the most boring information fun, the student can develop an deeper understanding and connection with the content. I think that learning styles play an important role in this magic. By allowing the student to be hands on, or see visual representations, or work in groups, and so on, the teacher is engaging them in a manner that is sometimes lost through traditional methods of teaching. I think that the key is to KNOW each students learning preference and try to incorporate that preference as much as possible. I feel that also teaching in a variety of methods could make the hands on learner, who maybe a weak auditory learner, become stronger in their weaknesses. Great job on the blog. I wanted to add to your portion about research-based teaching as well. I agree that research-based teaching aligns with standards and what is expected and that most teachers care. I also feel that teaching methods not backed by research are also important because each class and its students are different.(In my opinion), research represents the majority of findings, yet does not always account for every single student and classroom. I feel that the teacher and her specific classroom needs are research in themselves!
ReplyDeleteI had always been told to implement different learning styles into the classroom, so watching the video was a little awakening. I don't think teachers should assess children to only teach that one learning style to them. I think that using a variety of strategies is how children will benefit them most. I also think that research is important, like you said "where would we be without it". Teachers need to understand their students and how to teach them to the best of their abilities to make them successful.
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