The poem “Students” by Tom Wayman, shows four different learning styles: The Vaccination Theory of Education, The Dipstick Theory of Education, The Easy Listener Theory of Learning, and The Kung Fu Theory of Education. Wayman is a teacher that has noticed that every person devolves into one of these different learning styles. The four different theory of education are used every day even if we do not know.
The Vaccination Theory of Education is when students forget everything after having learned and completed the subject. Experts from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia conducted a study that showed that most students “lose 2 to 2 1/2 months of the math computational skills that they learned during the school year” (Strauss). Students that follow this theory would get great marks when it counts, on test and quizzes, but will forget the subject after completion. And when it is time to apply what they have learned to the real world they fail the real test.
The second learning styles presented in this poem is The Dipstick Theory. Th...
While reading the book Mindset by Carol S. Dweck I learned much about my personal learning style, the realization about how I work with others, and how much an attitude or preconceived idea can influence how I live my life. This also directly impacts my thoughts as an aspiring teacher. All of which have made me come to the realization that as a teacher I will need to be aware of not only my mindset but also be aware of how students can be influenced by their mindsets.
Using it as a personal example, the author, Joanne Lipman, describes the death of a former teacher, Mr. K, who is described as an amazingly strict teacher. Though music and the later success of Mr. K’s students seem completely unrelated, the author accredits the success to Mr. K’s teaching methods. Lipman includes this story in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of classic education. In addition to this personal example, the author then provides a plethora of research which supports the prior claim. Moreover, Joanne Lipman quotes research from sources such as psychologists, the U.S. Department of Education, and colleges. In doing this, Lipman further convinces readers that old-school educational methods are important by providing factual evidence of the ideas found in “Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results”. Though innovation is important, certain techniques are shown to be proven to work and do not need to be entirely changed or removed. In paragraph 7, Lipman compares conventional teaching to traditional teaching, expressing that conventional teachers are being too nice to their students. The author states this to express that this conventional style of teaching is not nearly as effective as traditional methods such as rote memorization, and is wrongly praised more often than the latter. As can be seen, Joanne Lipman wrote this article to convince
The two teachers introduced in “Students” and “Crow Lake” both struggle to engage their students’ interest because they can not connect well with the students. One of the main factors that separates Wayman and the narrator with their students is the generation gap. On Wayman’s first meeting with his freshman class, he already feels the distance between him and the students, as the speaker describes that “Wayman was sure the computer was in error,” because the birthdates it showed was so recent. (2-3, Wayman) There is a difference in values and attitudes between the generation the students and that of Wayman’s. Although Wayman probably needed the “Kung Fu Theory of Education” when he was young, in order to deal with hardships all by himself, the students, most of whom are still able to depend on their parents both financially and mentally, can not recognize the importance of Wayman’s words. (25, Wayman) The narrator in “Crow Lake” also senses the difference between she and her students, too. She wonders that “how many of the students” in her classroom “would have had the opportunity to see” the marvels of life which she had seen when she was little. (16, Lawson) The narrator does not understand why her students show almost no interest in the things she is so ...
I believe that teaching and learning is both a science and an art, which requires the implementation of already determined rules. I see learning as the result of internal forces within the person student. I know that children differ in the way they learn and grow but I also know that all children can learn. Students’ increased understanding of their own experience is a legitimate form of knowledge. I will present my students with opportunities to develop the ability to meet personal knowledge.
I will explain the psychology of learning and the theories I use in my practice. Analysing these theories and teaching methods will give rise, to investigating how these will help in teaching and learning ‘In a nutshell, a principle is a value, belief or ethic relating to something you do and the theory is that which explains why it works’.(Wilson 2009:350) In delivering of a lessons, educator must keep in mind SMARTER objectives.
Methods like experiments, field trips or role play are rarely used. Because of that, labs and tutorials are more essential for these learners. Among the methods that can help these learners are by trying to use all the senses in the learning process because the more senses you use the higher recall will be, as you have many clues. In addition, make notes with several examples for each concept and use your own examples, the more personal examples you create, the better you remember. A very important thing to note is that this questionnaire is not designed to predict the ability of someone to make the diagnosis.
Adjusting learning and studying strategies can be a fast easy way to improve a college grade from a B to an A. Through studies of learning styles I have been able to decipher my learning types. I am a visual learner, have an integrated brain, meaning I use both hemispheres, and ranked highest in bodily-kinesthetic and logic-mathematical intelligence.
Thomas Edison, once stated the “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. This statement may hold true for some, however in the era of the Industrial Revolution this was not the case. They knew what hard work was for many it started as early as six years old up to adult hood. Many had to work long, grueling working hours in dirty, dusty conditions. They didn’t miss a chance for changing their lot in life.
In closing, implementing only one theory of learning can be limiting to the success of students in a classroom setting. A more effective approach would be “draw from two or more theoretical perspectives… to better capture the complex nature of human thinking and learning” (Ormrod, 2012). According to Howard Gardner, there are multiple intelligences in human individuals that are based on biological and cultural elements (Brualdi, 1996). Since each of the intelligences work independently of each other, but also complement each other individuals learn, teachers should teach accordingly (Brualdi, 1996).
Before taking my philosophy self-assessment, I was sure my highest score would fall somewhere in humanistic or social change. I was surprised when I saw that all of my scores fell within six points of each other in all five of the philosophies. After thinking about this, I have determined that I have come to see the benefits of each of the philosophies of education and have drawn pieces from each one in order to shape my own philosophy of education and teaching. Behavioral, progressive and humanistic are the three philosophies that I scored highest in and I will attempt to show how my philosophy relates to ethical teaching of each in today’s classroom. In Nodding’s Philosophy of Education he says, “Thoughtful people continue to examine the old responses, to generate new ones induced by changing conditions and to reflect on current responses in the interest of making education as good as it can be.”
We ignore the plain fact that students learn at different rates and in different ways” (3). Furthermore, teachers are the main source of knowledge in the classroom. When teaching, teachers determine almost everything that happens within their classroom. Including what information they have students learn, and how they pass on that information. However, over the years, it has been neglected that every student learns differently. Additionally, it needs to be remembered that it is the students who are learning. A school system is needed that can retain all students’ curiosity, individuality, and creativity. For instance, whether it is the amount of homework given, the type of test, the pace of teaching, or the style of notes required, students should not be confined to only one way of
In this course I experienced an important change in my beliefs about teaching; I came to understand that there are many different theories and methods that can be tailored to suit the teacher and the needs of the student. The readings, especially those from Lyons, G., Ford, M., & Arthur-Kelly, M. (2011), Groundwater-Smith, S., Ewing, R., & Le Cornu, R. (2007), and Whitton, D., Barker, K., Nosworthy, M., Sinclair, C., Nanlohy, P. (2010), have helped me to understand this in particular. In composing my essay about teaching methods and other themes, my learning was solidified, my knowledge deepened by my research and my writing skills honed.
Everyone has different learning styles. Learning styles are important because they help you better understand materials in classes. They are there to guide you and become a better student. Learning styles help you better grasp the material and better process it through your brain. When learning you want to do what is most beneficial for you. That is why there is many different learning styles to suit every person. There is three different types of learning styles categorized. The first learning style is auditory. Auditory is meant for individuals that enjoy asking questions, talking and listening, as well as like to read out loud. Visual learners are more interested in charts, graphs, neat surroundings, seeing rather than hearing, and are pictured to be timid as they read to themselves rather than out loud. Finally there is the kinesthetic learning style. Kinesthetic is to touch, to feel, and usually learn by doing.
The overall essence of education or knowledge acquisition is reflected in an axiom by Confucius which says “Tell me, and I will forget; show me, and I will remember; but involve me, and I will understand. Back then, it was clear that learning was a comprehensive process which involves passionate exchanges between students and their teachers; unfortunately this is not the case in most modern classrooms. Instead of the expected bidirectional communication between learners and teachers, in the modern learning environment there is a unidirectional system which involves the teacher incessantly hurling facts at students who, due to their passive roles as mere receptacles, have fallen asleep or; in the case of “best” students are mindlessly taking notes. This leads to a situation where knowledge has neither been conferred nor acquired.
Thought out our lives, we are faced with many different learning experiences. Some of these experiences have made a better impact than others. This can be attributed to everyone’s different multiple intelligences or learning styles. A persons learning style is the method though which they gain information about their environment. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to know these styles, so we can reach each of our students and use all of the necessary methods.