Learning Styles
To be able to facilitate good learning in students you need to be aware of the different learning styles that may be present in the class room and how to work with and adjust to those differences in learning.
When I was a student, from primary school to tertiary education, almost everything was "handed to me on a platter" and rote learning through repetition and memorising seemed to be the way to learn and be taught.
These days I try to accommodate for the fact that not everybody likes to learn that way. I only have to look at my two children where one loves to copy from slides, put posters and workbooks together with information and facts, while the other cannot remember the way simple words are spelled but can build the most complex things with lego from a picture (forget about the steps to follow - he will work it out).
However, there seems to be learning styles and learning styles as I have discovered when digging a little deeper.
When I was a student, from primary school to tertiary education, almost everything was "handed to me on a platter" and rote learning through repetition and memorising seemed to be the way to learn and be taught.
These days I try to accommodate for the fact that not everybody likes to learn that way. I only have to look at my two children where one loves to copy from slides, put posters and workbooks together with information and facts, while the other cannot remember the way simple words are spelled but can build the most complex things with lego from a picture (forget about the steps to follow - he will work it out).
However, there seems to be learning styles and learning styles as I have discovered when digging a little deeper.
When I first looked at different learning styles there was the choice of 'visual, auditory or tactile' which made life not too complicated. I was mainly a 'visual' learner, preferring maps to explanations on how to get somewhere (thank heaven for Google Maps which gives me a "picture" on how to get somewhere). It is often not that difficult to place students in one of the three categories (on their preference), even when they may like to use a combination of all three.
This visual aspect is clear in most of my classrooms. Power-point presentations often support my delivery of the content (I find it keeps me on track), but instead of lots of text, my slides often have pictures which I then use to explain the theory that goes with it ("a picture often speaks a thousands words" and who has the patience to read a thousand words?)
Extra Activity 1.1 asked us to have a look at our own learning style using the Honey & Mumford model, which was adapted from Kolb’s model for business. Among their modifications, they introduced more accessible terms for the four learning style profiles:
1. Reflector - Prefers to learn from activities that allow them observe and think things over before forming conclusions. Appreciate thorough analysis and collection of data.
2. Theorist - Prefers to personally think problems through step-by-step with logic and tend to assimilate facts into coherent theories. They use principles and models to analyze and synthesize.
3. Pragmatist - Prefers to apply new learnings and ideas to actual practice to see if they work. Enjoy getting things going and seeing thing working
4. Activist - Prefers the challenges of new experiences, involvement with others, and immediate returns. They are open minded, move quickly, and are constantly active.
It seemed that I was mostly an Activist, with bits of a Reflector and Pragmatist. I did not seem to have anything in common with a Theorist. Initiaslly I did not fully agree with this as I like both fact and logic, but the more I looked at the explanation the more I felt it fitted me. I always thought I was more of a reflector as I reflect a lot. However, although I appreciate 'thorough analysis and collection of data' I do not present my work in a novel and artisitc way. I think I used to be a Theorist, preferring the traditional classroom over the "big picture, brainstorming". Although part of that is still present I have come to experience the different learning styles and slowly, unconsciously, modified my preference.
1. Reflector - Prefers to learn from activities that allow them observe and think things over before forming conclusions. Appreciate thorough analysis and collection of data.
2. Theorist - Prefers to personally think problems through step-by-step with logic and tend to assimilate facts into coherent theories. They use principles and models to analyze and synthesize.
3. Pragmatist - Prefers to apply new learnings and ideas to actual practice to see if they work. Enjoy getting things going and seeing thing working
4. Activist - Prefers the challenges of new experiences, involvement with others, and immediate returns. They are open minded, move quickly, and are constantly active.
It seemed that I was mostly an Activist, with bits of a Reflector and Pragmatist. I did not seem to have anything in common with a Theorist. Initiaslly I did not fully agree with this as I like both fact and logic, but the more I looked at the explanation the more I felt it fitted me. I always thought I was more of a reflector as I reflect a lot. However, although I appreciate 'thorough analysis and collection of data' I do not present my work in a novel and artisitc way. I think I used to be a Theorist, preferring the traditional classroom over the "big picture, brainstorming". Although part of that is still present I have come to experience the different learning styles and slowly, unconsciously, modified my preference.
Wanting to learn more about learning styles I started to look at other theories and came across the Felder-Silverman learning style model (FSLSM; Felder & Silverman, 1988). There are four dimensions of this model:
active-reflective
sensing-intuitive
visual-verbal
sequential-global
Doing the test with this model (44 questions with two options - pick the one that best suit you) it seemed that my learning style is more Reflective than Active, definitely way more Sensing than Inituitive, Visual more than Verbal (not really a surprise) and Sequential more than Global. ~
active-reflective
sensing-intuitive
visual-verbal
sequential-global
Doing the test with this model (44 questions with two options - pick the one that best suit you) it seemed that my learning style is more Reflective than Active, definitely way more Sensing than Inituitive, Visual more than Verbal (not really a surprise) and Sequential more than Global. ~
Then I came across the seven styles of learning as shown in the picture beside. Here multiple learning styles and multiple intelligences go hand in hand. The seven learning styles are:
Visual (spatial). You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical). You prefer using sound and music.
Verbal (linguistic). You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical (kinesthetic). You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical (mathematical). You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal). You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary (intrapersonal). You prefer to work alone and use self-study.
Although I believe I may have a little more or less of all seven, there is one learning style that I belief fits me to a T - The Solitary (Intrapersonal) Learning style; The explanation for this learning style was:
* If you have a solitary style, you are more private, introspective and independent. You can concentrate well, focusing your thoughts and feelings on your current topic.
* You are aware of your own thinking, and you may analyze the different ways you think and feel. You spend time on self-analysis, and often reflect on past events and the way you approached them.
* You take time to ponder and assess your own accomplishments or challenges. You may keep a journal, diary or personal log to record your personal thoughts and events.
* You ike to spend time alone. You may have a personal hobby. You prefer traveling or holidaying in remote or places away from crowds.
* You feel that you know yourself. You think independently, and you know your mind. You may have attended self-development workshops, read self-help books or used other methods to develop a deeper understanding of yourself.
* You prefer to work on problems by retreating to somewhere quiet and working through possible solutions. You may sometimes spend too much time trying to solve a problem that you could more easily solve by talking to someone.
* You like to make plans and set goals. You know your direction in life and work. You prefer to work for yourself, or have thought a lot about it. If you don't know your current direction in life, you feel a deep sense of dissatisfaction.
I realised I am all these seven points. Working as a physiotherapist is a solitary profession, especially in private practice, and I enjoyed that type of work. A hospital setting often provides more opportunaty for multidisciplinary team work and also more opportunities to learn from each other. Then I started work at TAFE as a solo operator/teacher for the Certificate IV in Allied Health. Loved the fact that I was responsible for the coordination, resource development and teaching. The last two years I have been in a teamleader role which involved having to work closely together with people with completely different learning styles. Although challenging it has also been very rewarding and I have gained new knowledge and learned many a new skill. A study of effective collaboration in Allied Health education showed that students with opposing learning styles worked better on a simulated clinical case exercise than students with the same learning styles. As such there is definitely hope for me!
References:
Fleder, RM & Soloman, BA. - Learning styles and strategies. Retrieved from: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm
Lepi, K. (2012). Image. The seven styles of learning. Which works for you? Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://www.edudemic.com/styles-of-learning/
Overview of learning styles. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://dept.lamar.edu/cde/nursing_site/link_docs/strategies/Overview%20of%20Learning%20Styles.pdf
Sandmire, D.A. & Boyce, P.F. (2004). Pairing of opposite learning styles among Allied Health students: Effects on collaborative performance. Journal of Allied Health, 33(2), 156-163
Seldon, B. - Learning Style – A misnomer or useful business strategy? Retrieved from: http://nationallearning.com.au/learning-style/
The educators (blog) Image. Retrieved October 12, 2013 from http://www.theeducators.co/2013/08/30/learning-styles/
Visual (spatial). You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical). You prefer using sound and music.
Verbal (linguistic). You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical (kinesthetic). You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical (mathematical). You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal). You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary (intrapersonal). You prefer to work alone and use self-study.
Although I believe I may have a little more or less of all seven, there is one learning style that I belief fits me to a T - The Solitary (Intrapersonal) Learning style; The explanation for this learning style was:
* If you have a solitary style, you are more private, introspective and independent. You can concentrate well, focusing your thoughts and feelings on your current topic.
* You are aware of your own thinking, and you may analyze the different ways you think and feel. You spend time on self-analysis, and often reflect on past events and the way you approached them.
* You take time to ponder and assess your own accomplishments or challenges. You may keep a journal, diary or personal log to record your personal thoughts and events.
* You ike to spend time alone. You may have a personal hobby. You prefer traveling or holidaying in remote or places away from crowds.
* You feel that you know yourself. You think independently, and you know your mind. You may have attended self-development workshops, read self-help books or used other methods to develop a deeper understanding of yourself.
* You prefer to work on problems by retreating to somewhere quiet and working through possible solutions. You may sometimes spend too much time trying to solve a problem that you could more easily solve by talking to someone.
* You like to make plans and set goals. You know your direction in life and work. You prefer to work for yourself, or have thought a lot about it. If you don't know your current direction in life, you feel a deep sense of dissatisfaction.
I realised I am all these seven points. Working as a physiotherapist is a solitary profession, especially in private practice, and I enjoyed that type of work. A hospital setting often provides more opportunaty for multidisciplinary team work and also more opportunities to learn from each other. Then I started work at TAFE as a solo operator/teacher for the Certificate IV in Allied Health. Loved the fact that I was responsible for the coordination, resource development and teaching. The last two years I have been in a teamleader role which involved having to work closely together with people with completely different learning styles. Although challenging it has also been very rewarding and I have gained new knowledge and learned many a new skill. A study of effective collaboration in Allied Health education showed that students with opposing learning styles worked better on a simulated clinical case exercise than students with the same learning styles. As such there is definitely hope for me!
References:
Fleder, RM & Soloman, BA. - Learning styles and strategies. Retrieved from: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm
Lepi, K. (2012). Image. The seven styles of learning. Which works for you? Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://www.edudemic.com/styles-of-learning/
Overview of learning styles. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://dept.lamar.edu/cde/nursing_site/link_docs/strategies/Overview%20of%20Learning%20Styles.pdf
Sandmire, D.A. & Boyce, P.F. (2004). Pairing of opposite learning styles among Allied Health students: Effects on collaborative performance. Journal of Allied Health, 33(2), 156-163
Seldon, B. - Learning Style – A misnomer or useful business strategy? Retrieved from: http://nationallearning.com.au/learning-style/
The educators (blog) Image. Retrieved October 12, 2013 from http://www.theeducators.co/2013/08/30/learning-styles/