Working with Children

The easy job

Here is a one-question test to give “food for thought”

the rest of the day...

A person who can not speak (dumb) enters a drug store wanting to buy a toothbrush.  

By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper, and the purchase is done.  

Now, if there is a person who is blind and wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses-

-How should that person express him or herself?  

Think about it first before writing your answer...

It’s all in the perception / point of view!

(and easy if you already knew the answer- or if you are used to thinking in that way…)

How about:

The person who is blind opens his or her mouth and says, "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses"

It is a bit like that with Learning Styles:

Easy if you are used to thinking in that way---but if a student thinks in one learning style while a instructor is teaching in another…

Learning Styles

AtWCSCC

Learning Styles

AtWCSCC

Wayne County Schools Career Center

Martha Miller-Plumb

I. The brain and why the learning environment is important

III. Learning style instruments

IV. Suggestions for varied teaching

II. Learning styles simplified

What to expect:

I. The brain and why the learning environment is important

The human brain-

-Obviously quite complex

-The “seat” of both logic and emotion

Humans tend to learn

-More

-More quickly-

-If we are in a non-threatening environment

-If we like what we are learning

Learning StylesLearning Styles

Learning StylesLearning Styles

Temporallobe

Hippocampus

Amygdala

Inside the brain:

The amygdala and the hippocampus

1. Work together to help humans survive

2. They can trigger the “fight or flight” response

And

3. Some believe that this area is the physical origin of phobias (irrational fears)

Inside the brain:

The amygdala and the hippocampus

1. Work together to help humans survive

2. They can trigger the “fight or flight” response

And

3. Some believe that this area is the physical origin of phobias (irrational fears)

Learning StylesLearning Styles

Amygdala

1. Part of the limbic system

2. Associated with unconscious

behavioral/ emotional (procedural) memories

3. Like the brains’ "9-1-1 Response" system:

It rapidly processes information

related to fear (or other emotion)

Hippocampus

1. Part of the limbic system

2. Associated with conscious, factual memories

3. Can store information for

-Short periods of time or

-Long periods of time

Depending on type of information stored

Learning StylesLearning Styles

II. Learning styles simplified

What to expect:

1. Learning styles- Different approaches/ ways of learning

1. Learning styles- Different approaches/ ways of learning

Learning Styles/Teaching StylesLearning Styles/Teaching Styles

2. We tend to teach the way we were taught2. We tend to teach the way we were taught

2. Many different systems of labels for learning styles

3. Some systems are complicated

1. Learning style research popular in the 1980’s

4. One of the simplest is: Visual, Auditory, Tactile Kinesthetic

Learning StylesLearning Styles

Visual Learners: Learn through seeing…

1. Need to see body language and facial expression to fully understand lesson content

2. Tend to prefer sitting at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people's heads)

3 learning styles- 1. Visual3 learning styles- 1. Visual

Visual Learners: Learn through seeing…

1. May think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including:

Diagrams, Illustrated text books, White boards, Videos, Flipcharts, Hand-outs 

2. During a lecture or classroom discussion, may take detailed notes to absorb information

3 learning styles- 1. Visual3 learning styles- 1. Visual

3 learning styles- 2. Auditory3 learning styles- 2. Auditory

Auditory Learners: Learn through listening...

1. To verbal lectures, discussions, Talking things through and Listening to what others have to say

2. Interpret the meanings of speech through listening

-To tone of voice, -Pitch, -Speed -Other nuances

3 learning styles- 2. Auditory3 learning styles- 2. Auditory

Auditory Learners: Learn through listening...

Written information may have little meaning until it is heard

These learners often benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape recorder

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners: Learn through , moving, doing and touching...   

Learn best through a hands-on approach-

Actively explore the physical world

3 learning styles- 3. Tactile/Kinesthetic3 learning styles- 3. Tactile/Kinesthetic

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners: Learn through , moving, doing and touching...   

May find it hard to sit still for long periods

May become distracted by their need for activity and exploration

3 learning styles- 3. Tactile/Kinesthetic3 learning styles- 3. Tactile/Kinesthetic

III. Learning style instruments

What to expect:

Learning Style Instruments:

1. To find perceived learning style preference(s)

2. No one learns only one way

3. Learners can learn new ways

Ideas to Remember:

The following chart can help to determine ones learning style preference…

1. Read the word in the left column then 2. Answer the questions in the successive three columns

-Answers may fall into all three columns, but

-One column will likely contain the most answers

3. Circle the block that is most often true in each category

The dominant column indicates a primary learning style preference

Learning StylesLearning Styles

When you..Visual Auditory Kinesthetic & Tactile

Spell Do you try to see the word?Do you sound out the word or use a phonetic approach?

Do you write the word down to find if it feels right?

Talk

Do you sparingly but dislike listening for too long? Do you favor words such as see, picture, and imagine?

Do you enjoy listening but are impatient to talk? Do you use words such as hear, tune, and think?

Do you gesture and use expressive movements? Do you use words such as feel, touch, and hold?

ConcentrateDo you become distracted by untidiness or movement?

Do you become distracted by sounds or noises?

Do you become distracted by activity around you?

Meet someone again

Do you forget names but remember faces or remember where you met?

Do you forget faces but remember names or remember what you talked about?

Do you remember best what you did together?

Contact people on business

Do you prefer direct, face-to-face, personal meetings?

Do you prefer the telephone?Do you talk with them while walking or participating in an activity?

ReadDo you like descriptive scenes or pause to imagine the actions?

Do you enjoy dialog and conversation or hear the characters talk?

Do you prefer action stories or are not a keen reader?

Do something new at work

Do you like to see demonstrations, diagrams, slides, or posters?

Do you prefer verbal instructions or talking about it with someone else?

Do you prefer to jump right in and try it?

Put something together

Do you look at the directions and the picture?

Do you ignore the directions and figure it out as you go along?

Need help with a computer application

Do you seek out pictures or diagrams?

Do you call the help desk, ask a neighbor, or growl at the computer?

Do you keep trying to do it or try it on another computer?

1. Learning styles- Different approaches/ ways of learning

1. Learning styles- Different approaches/ ways of learning

Learning Styles/Teaching StylesLearning Styles/Teaching Styles

2. We tend to teach the way we were taught2. We tend to teach the way we were taught

Problems:Problems:

Learning Styles/Teaching StylesLearning Styles/Teaching Styles

Learning Style Preferences VaryLearning Style Preferences Vary

-From person to person-From person to person

-From situation to situation-From situation to situation

One good solution:One good solution:

Learning Styles/Teaching StylesLearning Styles/Teaching Styles

Use a variety of teaching styles!Use a variety of teaching styles!

IV. Suggestions for varied teaching

What to expect:

Reading a book-

If primary learning style is visual:-Draw pictures in margins (if book is theirs) -Look at graphics (maybe do this first and predict?) -Read text that explains graphics

-Envision the topic or play a movie in thoughts of how subject matter could be acted out

visual

Visual

Auditory

If primary learning style is auditory:

Reading a book-

-Listen to the words being read

-Try to develop an internal conversation between listener and text

-Do not be embarrassed to read aloud -or talk through the information

Tactile/KinestheticIf primary learning style is tactile/kinesthetic:

-Mark meaningful passages -Take notes, -Transfer information learned To margins of book (if one owns it), Into journal, or Onto computer. -Doodle whatever comes to mind -Hold the book in hands instead of placing on table -Walk around while reading -Feel the words and ideas

Get busy—both mentally and physically

Reading a book-

I. The brain and why the learning environment is important

III. Learning style instruments

IV. Suggestions for varied teaching

II. Learning styles simplified

What this presentation mentioned:

Here’s to a fantastic school year!

Sources and Further Reading

http://agelesslearner.com/assess/learningstyle.htmlhttp://bostonreview.net/BR25.6/gardner.htmlhttp://www.fortnet.org/ParentToParent/PFellers/par_lern.htmlhttp://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/high/wotc/confli3.htm http://members.aol.com/Rss51540/brain.htmlhttp://school.familyeducation.com/intelligence/teaching-methods/38519.html?fhttp://surfaquarium.com/MI/http://www.chaminade.org/inspire/learnstl.htmhttp://www.abacon.com/slavin/glossary.html#ahttp://www.edutopia.org/php/people.php?id=c502824http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000718.shtml http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#What%20arehttp://www.udel.edu/bateman/acei/multint9.htm