Technology and Learning Styles and multiple intelligences
I have read the article LEARNING STYLES AND STRATEGIES by Richard M. Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor of Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University and Barbara A. Soloman, Coordinator of Advising, First Year College, North Carolina State University.
The article introduces eight learning styles. The writers tried to make a comparison between each two opposite types for example, between the active and reflective learners, the sensing learners and the intuitive learners, the visual and the verbal learners and at last the sequential learners and the global learners. Then, the writer tried to introduce a solution for each type. The writer mentions how can each learner help himself if he is put in an educational situation that doesn't suit his abilities or the way he retain and understand information.
The active learners understand information by discussing, or applying or explaining it. They like group work. They like to try the information first. On the other hand the reflective learner thinks of it first. They prefer working alone. The only similarity between them is that they couldn't sit for lectures without having anything to do. The comparison tried to guide the active and reflective learners to help themselves. An active learner in a class that allows little or no class time for discussion should study in a group, take turns explaining different topics to each other and work with others. This will help him retain information better. A reflective learner in a class that allows little or no class time for thinking shouldn't read or memorize the material or review what he has read and to think of possible questions or applications. He should write short summaries and class notes. This will enable him to retain the material more effectively.
Sensing learners like learning facts. They also like solving problems. They dislike complications and surprises. They are patient with details, good at memorizing facts, practical and careful. On the other hand, intuitive learners prefer discovering possibilities and relationships. They like innovation and they dislike repetition. They are better at grasping new concepts. To help themselves, sensors in a class where most of the material is abstract and theoretical should ask the instructor for specific examples of concepts and how they are applied. But an intuitor in a class that deals primarily with memorization should ask the instructor for interpretations or theories that link the facts. He should take time to read the entire question before he starts answering and be sure to check his results.
Visual learners remember best what they see--pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films. On the contrary, verbal learners get more out of words--written and spoken explanations. To help themselves, a visual learner tries to find diagrams, sketches and flow charts. He should ask the instructor for videotapes or CD-ROM displays of the course. He should color-code the notes. The verbal learner should write summaries or outlines of course material in his own words and work in groups so as to hear classmates.
The sequential learners understand in linear steps with each step following logically from the previous one. They follow logical stepwise paths. The global learners learn in large jumps. They can solve complex problems quickly or put things together. If the instructor jumps around from topic to topic or skips steps, the sequential learner should ask the instructor to fill in the skipped steps. He should also outline the lecture in logical order. Then he should relate each new topic he studies to things he already knows. A global learner, who needs the big picture before mastering the details, should skim through the entire topic to get an overview. He should try to relate the subject to things he already knows by asking the instructor to help him see connections or by consulting references.
Resources :
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm
I have read the article LEARNING STYLES AND STRATEGIES by Richard M. Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor of Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University and Barbara A. Soloman, Coordinator of Advising, First Year College, North Carolina State University.
The article introduces eight learning styles. The writers tried to make a comparison between each two opposite types for example, between the active and reflective learners, the sensing learners and the intuitive learners, the visual and the verbal learners and at last the sequential learners and the global learners. Then, the writer tried to introduce a solution for each type. The writer mentions how can each learner help himself if he is put in an educational situation that doesn't suit his abilities or the way he retain and understand information.
The active learners understand information by discussing, or applying or explaining it. They like group work. They like to try the information first. On the other hand the reflective learner thinks of it first. They prefer working alone. The only similarity between them is that they couldn't sit for lectures without having anything to do. The comparison tried to guide the active and reflective learners to help themselves. An active learner in a class that allows little or no class time for discussion should study in a group, take turns explaining different topics to each other and work with others. This will help him retain information better. A reflective learner in a class that allows little or no class time for thinking shouldn't read or memorize the material or review what he has read and to think of possible questions or applications. He should write short summaries and class notes. This will enable him to retain the material more effectively.
Sensing learners like learning facts. They also like solving problems. They dislike complications and surprises. They are patient with details, good at memorizing facts, practical and careful. On the other hand, intuitive learners prefer discovering possibilities and relationships. They like innovation and they dislike repetition. They are better at grasping new concepts. To help themselves, sensors in a class where most of the material is abstract and theoretical should ask the instructor for specific examples of concepts and how they are applied. But an intuitor in a class that deals primarily with memorization should ask the instructor for interpretations or theories that link the facts. He should take time to read the entire question before he starts answering and be sure to check his results.
Visual learners remember best what they see--pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films. On the contrary, verbal learners get more out of words--written and spoken explanations. To help themselves, a visual learner tries to find diagrams, sketches and flow charts. He should ask the instructor for videotapes or CD-ROM displays of the course. He should color-code the notes. The verbal learner should write summaries or outlines of course material in his own words and work in groups so as to hear classmates.
The sequential learners understand in linear steps with each step following logically from the previous one. They follow logical stepwise paths. The global learners learn in large jumps. They can solve complex problems quickly or put things together. If the instructor jumps around from topic to topic or skips steps, the sequential learner should ask the instructor to fill in the skipped steps. He should also outline the lecture in logical order. Then he should relate each new topic he studies to things he already knows. A global learner, who needs the big picture before mastering the details, should skim through the entire topic to get an overview. He should try to relate the subject to things he already knows by asking the instructor to help him see connections or by consulting references.
Resources :
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm
