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| Learning Styles | |||||
| "Learning style is defined as the unique collection of individual skills and preferences that affect how a person perceive, gathers and process information", (Johnson and Orwig). Being a good student is about learning to learn; it is a set of skills that are learnt and improves with practice. The VARK questionnaire is a quick and easy evaluation of preferred learning style. The aim is to get you thinking about the process of learning. It includes Visual, Aural, Read/write, Kinesthetic and Multimodal learners. | |||||
| A Read/Write Learner, like me, is one who emphasizes text-based input and output, a reading and writing in all forms. In this style I can say that I learn best by writing information. I need to see things in words before it makes sense to me. I can easily learn by taking notes and re-reading them. If I have to put something together, I would read the direction first and ask for help only as my last resort I can figure out. I can easily apply what I have read when writing and learn from it. | |||||
| Visual learners prefer using images, pictures, colors, and maps to organize information and communicate with others. They can easily visualize objects, plans and outcomes in their mind's eye. Visual learners gain understanding by studying the spatial arrangements and connections (flow charts and time lines, for example) of their study. | |||||
| Kinesthetic learners learn best by moving their bodies, activating their large or small muscles as they learn. These are the who actually concentrate better and learn more easily when movement is involved. They need to actively involved to make the information stay in their heads. | |||||
| Aural learners are those people who prefer information explained to them. Hearing is the way they process memory best. They learn best by attending classes, lectures, tutorials and any forms of discussion group. | |||||
| Multimodal learners either have no strong single preference but can learn with any method or have a strong preference for more than one style. | |||||
| Another learning styles inventory is the Hermann Brain Dominance Indicator (HBDI) indicates what type of learning is thinking, doing, feeling and innovating. | |||||
| Feeling learners like me are those people who enjoy the personal connection and an emotionally supportive environment. We seek answers that are personally meaningful. We are uncomfortable with answers based on abstract theories and dispassionate fact. I learn best on this style if the instructor is warm and caring who values feelings and thoughts. My personal application is strong in sharing ideas and facts. I can be effective as a student if I am involve in study groups sharing, knowing facts, role playing and sharing individual experiences. | |||||
| Thinking learners are those people who are uncomfortable with answers that depend on tradition and personal intuitions or consideration. They excel at reasoned answers. Thinkers respect logical argument and facts and mostly they based their knowledge on proven facts and scientific conclusions. | |||||
| Doing learners are those people who learn well from instructors who present factual information and practical skills. This learning style enjoys actions best. | |||||
| Innovating learners are those people who enjoy seeking new possibilities and imagining an unseen future. They excel in trusting their inner vision and applying new applications. | |||||
| The way you apply your learning style to the way your professor teaches is very important to become a successful student. As a student of TNCC my professors have their own preferred teaching style and it includes the following. | |||||
| My writing professor is multimodal in teaching. He teaches us by Read/write, Visual and Aural. He usually presents his ideas vocally regarding the subject and to make it easier for us to understand, he will explain it on a step-by-step process. He gets us involve in group discussion and share knowledge regarding what is lacking in our essays. He let us search for visual aids that will further our understanding. Using the blackboard, he let us know assignments, projects, deadlines and assignment questions in lectures. He usually gives us a guide for us to make our essays more presentable and effective and help each one of us to involve in a discussion of the material that we gathered. | |||||
| My reading professor is also multimodal in teaching. She teaches us by Visual, Aural, and Read/Write. She usually provides illustrations, highlighting, visual photographs and metaphors. To make it easier for us to remember each vocabulary word, she uses memory tools like index cards and colored papers with illustration on it. She is able to connect her teachings on her own experiences in life which help us to easily understand what she presents in class. She let us do blackboard quizzes, assignments, and practice exercises to test our comprehension in each lectures and she gives us a chance to make the question clear and done before proceeding to the final test. | |||||
| My study skill professor is multimodal in teaching too. He teaches us by Aural, Visual, Read/Write and Kinesthetic. He teaches us mostly orally; lecturing and writing on the board and he provides intervals for us to think what we have been told (reflective). He involves us in group discussions and later altogether answers the given exercises. He lets us do writings (journals and essays) and apply it on our personal understanding, which is easier for us because we are able to express ourselves effectively. In teaching regarding college success skill, he is able to let us see how to become successful students towards our goals in life. Using his syllabus, we keep informed on every assignments, lectures and projects in class. He let us manipulate the computer for reading and writing research. He motivates us to appreciate our worthwhile achievements in life by taping success card to the wall. He show us a simple illustration of what life is all about, by doing activities like putting the pieces of puzzle together and doing activities which is related to life success. | |||||
| Being a student and a Read/Write learner, since all my professor are multimodal on teaching, I can easily adapt on the way they teach because they give different approaches in teaching that let each one of us learn effectively with our own learning style. As a person who learns best by seeing the word first before it makes sense to me, taking notes is very important especially when my instructor is lecturing. With this, I can easily go back on my notes and at the same time remembering every detail effectively because I am able to do the learning style that suite for me. Also by re-rewriting information in my own understanding it will help me remember best what has been taught. | |||||