For many years the “traditional teaching style” is known to have a teacher standing in front of classroom presenting information to students in a lecture-style forum. Student would take notes based on the lecture, then take written test to show what they obtained from the lecture and or the reading. While this worked perfectly for auditory learners and sometimes maybe visual learners, where did that leave kinesthetic and other types of learners?
As an educator it is important to understand and acknowledge that all students differ in ways that they can learn and obtain information. When educators acknowledge the different learning styles of their students, and find appropriate tools & resources to assist them, they will have a better chance of meeting each student’s diverse learning needs.
Educators can create equal and flexible plans and learning materials by adopting the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Originating in the field of architecture in the 1970s by Ronald Mace, the concept of Universal Design was driven by the goal of accessibility, creating environments that are usable by all people. In terms of learning, universal design is a set of principles for designing curriculum that provides all individuals with wide differences in their abilities, disabilities and linguistic background with
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Multiple means of representation signifies that content is presented in several formats (i.e., multimedia) with a wide variety of examples, allowing learners to properly perceive, understand, and comprehend the information. The information being taught should be provided through vision, hearing and or touch. In addition, the educator should provide information in a format that will allow for adjustability by the
In chapter four the focus switches away from assistive technology supporting students in one content area and focuses on the teaching profession and how assistive technology can assist teachers to employ a universal design for learning. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) promote learning that best for the student and promoting students a variety of methods to express their knowledge.
Flores, M. M. (2008). Universal design in elementary and middle school: Designing classrooms and instructional practices to ensure access to learning for all students. Childhood Education, 84(4), 224–229.
Personalizing learning for students takes the idea of differentiating instruction to fit the needs of your students is vitally important to fostering an environment that makes ...
As a teacher it is your responsibility to vary your instruction so that you can reach each different type of learner. Something that may be useful is giving students an assessment that makes the teacher aware of how each student learns, and base your instruction off of the results. Also, you can give them an assessment of Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences to get an even better understanding of their learning styles, their strengths, and their weaknesses. Providing students various opportunities and teaching techniques enables them to learn in way that suits them
UDL is a research-based framework that teachers can use to help students, including students with disabilities demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of ways. By using flexible materials, techniques and strategies to reduce barriers in instruction and provide supports that will help students succeed academically. The way information is presented using UDL is flexible that it open up ways and opportunity for students to engage, respond or demonstrate their knowledge and skills, in the ways that is unique to the students.
According to the learning styles theory there are three main learning styles. The first is visual. This is a student who prefers to see the information through notes, pictures, or demonstration. The second is auditory. This type of learner prefers to hear the information through lecture or recordings. The third is kinesthetic. A kinesthetic learner prefers to learn information through practical exercises and physically performing the task being taught. The learning styles theory is that if you teach a student by using their preferred learning ...
One important aspect of building this bridge is to understand the various learning styles evident in the classroom. Teachers tend to have their own preferences, or strengths, concerning their styles (Thompson, 1997). According to Thompson (1997), teachers noted for their excellence tended to teach in ways consistent with their own styles but found ways to reach students whose preferences differed. These ways included finding material and activities that spurred the student’s interest, and once the student was engaged, allowed the teacher to facilitate the course material. One method is for teacher’s to create learning centers with resources and materials that promote involving the different intelligences (Giles, Pitre, & Womack, 2003). Giles, Pitre, and Womack (2003)
Bobby in the story symbolizes coming of age and being a single dad. Bobby has to raise a baby by himself when he lost Nia and now can't do the childish things as much as he used too. Bobby was now confused on where to go with Feather after high school. Bobby moves in with his brother so he can still have help with the baby. Bobby has now come of age where he has to make adult decisions for him and Feather.
‘’ Each learner is unique and has individual need. If the needs of our learners are discovered and met, the chances of success are greatly increased.’’ (Petty, 2004, p.496).Our role as educators is to diagnose the learners’ needs and differences, to strategically plan for
De Jesus (2012) continues to say that everyone is distinct. Every learner varies in background knowledge, cultural, social, and cognitive development. Some are more visual learners, while others learn better by listening, yet others will remember and record data easier through hands on experience such as creating projects. Therefore, this information should alert instructors that change is inevitable. Necessary modifications in the classroom must be made in order to accommodate everyone’s needs and prevent repetitive scenarios such as the one depicted above.
The above teaching methods and strategies flow out of an educational approach that appreciates and celebrates student diversity. I believe that reaching a student via the mode he or she most fruitfully engages with the world is a prerequisite for effective teaching. Finally, I recognize that I still have much to learn about teaching, but I am hopeful that my passion for learning and for remaining critical and rational is contagious-that it serves as an example and challenges students to challenge themselves.
When researching about education, one often finds a great deal of literature and information about learning styles. Educators spend countless hours studying their students in order to find out how they learn best. All students have needs when it comes to how they learn and educators must be able to meet those needs in order to promote successful learning in their classrooms. This (paper/article) will focus on teaching strategies and how to vary them so that each learning style preference is addressed, therefore increasing the level of achievement of each student and making learning a successful outcome in the classroom.
who use wheelchairs to negotiate curbs and also make travel easier for those pushing strollers or delivery carts. Interest in the concept of UD grew in the 1990s led by Ron Mace. In 2004 the concept of universal design was applied to web page design which enables users who are blind and deaf to use the internet. Recently the universal design has been applied to education. UDL entered the education world and here to stay. This is because the technology is way advanced and available now.
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
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.