Learning is a very complex process. To determine my own individual learning preferences, I took the free multiple Intelligences test based on Howard Gardner 's model. The results were exactly what I thought that they would be. My top two learning styles models are linguistic and logical. I often get told I over analyze tasks. I like to see the big picture and know the “why” to a project. I know that I like to solve problems, and enjoy challenges. I often spend free time playing Sudoku and/or puzzles and manipulative games. I typically work through problems and issues in a systematic way, and you like to create procedures and plan by creating agendas and to do lists. Since I like things methodical, and orderly there are a lot of routines …show more content…
It is defined as a change in an individual’s mental structure and tries to explain how we think and gain knowledge. It is the theory at the forefront in which learning is described and explained. It has a significant effect on education emphasizing the role of the teacher in instruction. The role of teacher is to assist the learner 's application of the proper learning strategies, and the learner is active in the learning process by creating an environment where there are lots of tools where they can develop an understanding. The teacher can ask questions to help students refine their thinking and recognize where they may be …show more content…
Every learner is different and brings their own individual schema base from their gender, social class, culture, and environment. All learners have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to multiple intelligences and interacting with material. Each subject matter requires different approaches or strategies to teaching so that learning occurs. However after carful reflection and examining my own learning styles, I would say that I want students to apply learning to other situations. Therefore I need to incorporate all three of the models appropriately to the task or desired
As a learning provider it is essential that I have the ability to meet the requirements of someone who is deemed as a learner. Many of us know that people are different and receive information in several different ways. It is also ideal to become aware of what motivates a learner to understand the information which is being delivered to them in the classroom. As learning providers we cannot make the assumption that everybody learns in the same way because if that were the case we would soon find that the learners will only have the ability to remember certain parts of the information that they most relate to. This would result in the learners being unsuccessful in the class room. For example the VARK method from Neil Flemings (1987) theory, this shows that learners can take information in, in different ways.
The key aspect of teaching is engaging the students. I can testify that I learn best when the teacher is involving me, as well as others, in the assignment. Making the material personal is a useful skill and helps the students learn at a faster rate.
The Learning Styles. What's Your Learning Style?
Learning is defined as a permanent change in attitude or behaviour that occurs as a result of repeated experience (Sims & Sims, 1995). Understanding one’s learning style has many advantages as it can help one to identify the learning method or activities that can help to optimise the learning experience. It has been suggested that the importance of one’s learning style has been identified through studies and research on how one can maximise the potential for success and further learning development (Honey & Mumford, 2006). Learning styles are unique to each individual and are developed in childhood (Chase, 2001). We all have different personalities; therefore we all have preferred learning styles that suit us best. The way one learns depends on preference. Some learn by observing, listening and imitating others and draw conclusions from their experience. There are several factors that affect our learning style; for example, background, culture, religion and environment can have a major influence on one’s learning.
A big component of my learning style is hands-on experience; learning while doing. This usually involved someone with more experience instructing me as I performed the task. Through the hands-on approach, I picked-up the knowledge and gained proficiency as I went along. My learning style also involved standard classroom instruction, which usually meant listening to lectures and taking notes. My note taking was not the best so in order to make up for what I lacked in note taking, I would read the textbooks repeatedly until I understood what I was reading. I learned that in order for me to get a complete understanding from my readings and notes, there had to be a lot great deal of repetition ...
Teachers continually learn about ways people learn – the processes of learning and how individuals learn best. They learn about their students and individuals, and learn with as well as from their students when they seek knowledge together. (Principles of effective learning and teaching, 1994). Through continually discovering new and exciting ways to help mould a constructivist classroom, the students will be able to achieve their outcomes with great ease and learn to enjoy education.
Schunk, D. H. (2000) Learning theories. An educational perspective. (3rd ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
To determine the best way I learn, I carried out two different learning styles questionnaires online. One may find that they are not always categorised in a specific type rather they may have more than one learning preference. Firstly, the most commonly used Neil Fleming’s VARK model. Fleming believes that there are four different types of learner: Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing and Kinesthetic learners. The second model I tried out was Soloman-Felder Learning Styles and Strategies.
In order to be an effective teacher there needs to be an understanding that we all learn differently, this means that no single teaching strategy is effective for all students/learners all the time. This makes teaching a complex process because you need to understand and meet the requirements of all of your learners. Students learn best when they aren’t asked to simply memorise information but when they form their own understandings of what is being taught. When a student has successfully learnt a new idea they are able to then intergrate this information with their previously learnt information and make sense of it. To be an effective teacher you need to work jointly with students to asses where they are at, be able to give feedback on how the student is going and ensure that they are understanding the lesson (Killen, 2013) According to Lovat and Smith (2003) students learning must result in a change in a student’s understanding of the information being taught. In order to show understanding they must be able to share this information with others and want to learn more (Killen, 2013). In order to have a deeper understanding of what is being taught they need to be aware of the relationship that exists between what they knew previously and the new information that is being learned (Killen, 2013).. Students need to be given goals that they can achieve in order to feel a sense of mastery over their own learning, this gives students motivation that they are able to complete tasks and to keep going.
“A learning style is a way of learning and refers to the way that you learn new information” (2). Most people have one preferred learning style and perform to a lesser standard when learning in a different style than what they’re used to. Nowadays, children are told to take a quiz in school to determine what their preferred learning style is, but after a few years, not many of these children remember what their preferred learning style is, or even if they do, they don’t apply it to their learning.
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).
Each person has his or her own style of learning. Learning styles include visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. In the questionnaire, I learned that I am very much a visual learner. This reflection will show what I have learned about my unique learning style and how understanding learning styles of the children I teach will be helpful as I become a teacher.
Each of the three learning theories, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Behaviorism, has worth and merit in my opinion. Yet, each one has its own unique qualities with one common factor, the learning process. It seems to me that the best teacher is one who would utilize all the theories of learning. However, if I look closely, I am most likely favoring one or two more than the others in my own instructional methods. I read the brief definition of these three theories and realized that I needed to examine a more in-depth explanation of each of them. The theory of cognitivism focuses on the mind of the learner
Thomas, Ph.D, John W. "A Review of Research on Project-Based Learning." The Journal of Learning Sciences (2000): 367-42. Web. Mar. 2012. .
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.