Teaching Models for Online Instruction

There are many learning style inventories in use:

• Dunn & Dunn (environmental, emotional, sociological, physiological, psychological)
• Felder-Silverman (active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, sequential/global)
• Gardner's Multiple Intellingences (verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, kinesthetic, visual-spatial, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist)
• Gregoric Style Delineator (concrete sequential, abstract sequential, abstract random, concrete random)
• Hermann Brain Dominance instrument (emotional, analytical, structural, strategic)
• Kolb (concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, active experimentation)
• Myer-Briggs/Keirsey Temperament Sorter (extrovert/introvert, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, judging/perceiving)

Developed in 1987 by Neil Fleming, the VARK inventory is intended to help people understand their preferences for learning, and to help teachers teach to all types of learning styles. VARK stands for Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic styles of learning. A multi-modal category was later added when research revealed multiple preferences in 60% of respondents.

• The Visual preference takes information in from graphics: pictures, charts, graphs, and symbolic notation.
• The Aural preference is for listening: lectures, audio, and talking to other students.
• The Read/write preference is the written word.
• The Kinesthetic learner prefers practice, experience, examples, and simulations, even when combined with other formats.

• Articles about Learning Styles

  Here are two of the many articles available about learning styles:

  • Learning Styles Site, Center for Teaching and Learning, Indiana State University, "Using Learning Styles to Adapt Technology for Higher Education" by Terry O'Connor. Puts learning styles into perspective for higher education. Discusses design issues and refers to research and learning style theories. The three italicized sections, near the bottom of the page, provide concrete applications of taking multiple learning styles into account using technology.
  • "Applications of Adult Learning Theories to Constructivist Learning Environments" by Barbara Gaddis, a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Innovation, at the University of Colorado at Denver. Provides a survey of the extensive literature available about learning styles; includes references.
  
  

• Examples of Online Courses

  Visual | Aural | Read/write | Kinesthetic
  The four different VARK learning styles are illustrated in the following courses. The intent is to show what is possible using current technology. Plug-ins are required to fully experience all but one of the examples; links to download the plug-ins are provided.
  Animated GIF Source: http://www.vark-learn.com/ VARK - A Guide to Learning Styles

  Visual

  • Getting Started with Macromedia Flash A tutorial series in the form of a guided tour. Forget static screen shots! These presentations show an expert using and explaining specific features of the software. The user can play the tutorials on their own computer, side-by-side with the software. The tutorials can be restarted from any point and the user can watch and listen as many times as desired. Flash is a sophisticated software application and these tutorials are available free on the Macromedia Web site.

  • Chemistry 101/105 Laboratory Video Series, Eastern Kentucky University. Previously shown on the school's cable TV network, these streaming videos add the option for students to watch on their own computers or from any computer lab. Contains an orientation and discusses safety issues, policies, and procedures.

  ^examples^

  Aural

  • "Altered States of Consciousness" University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, lecture. Streaming audio provides for replay of the lecture for review, enhanced note-taking, or in case of absence from class. Synchronized slides are available to Penn students, faculty and registered users.

  • "Perspectives on the Idea of Evolution", Chautauqua Lecture Series, Eastern Kentucky University. Streaming audio guest lecture series explores evolution. Interested people can enjoy the entire series in retrospect. Valuable archive for later study.

  ^examples^

  Read/write

  • TILT Texas Information Literacy Tutorial. This tutorial is primarily text-based, even though graphics, sound, and movement is used. The user is required to read the information. Excellent content, well-designed site. Uses interactive video to present text.

  • "So, you want to make a Web Page!" PageTutor. A highly recommended site for learning HTML. Information is text-based with graphic examples and hands-on exercises that can be done side-by-side with these tutorials. Good use of humor, engaging writing style.

  ^examples^

  Kinesthetic

  • Worldly Enchantments Tent, from the Medieval Women Interactive Exploration site. Just one of many interactive ways to learn about the Middle Ages and women's experiences during that time period. Visit the site map to see the entire list of information available. Includes music, manipulatives, video, and some text. Uses streaming audio, streaming video and interactive video.

  • Words and Pictures, BBC Education. Interactive games for 5-7 year olds to teach phonics. I found it interesting (but not surprising!) that many sites for children employed kinesthetic or multi-modal strategies, but the sites for older/more highly educated people tended towards read/write.

  • Yes, there are three in this list! Arty the part-time Astronaut contains lots of interaction for learning about the solar system. The "loading" screen allows users to play Pong while they're waiting! There are two errors on the Activites, Space Smart, Moons quiz which make it frustrating. Illustrates the importance of proof-reading and testing materials.

Incorporating what I've learned into the class I'm developing

I am developing CIS 279 Advanced Applied Technical Writing for online delivery. I have already developed CIS 179 Applied Technical Writing for online delivery and have been delivering it online for two years. My department is in the process of choosing one textbook for both classes and splitting the material between the two classes, instead of covering the contents of two textbooks, a different one in each class.

From EDUI 6701:

• Chunk the material into manageable, related parts, for example, eight units for a sixteen-week semester.
• Clearly define �high-quality� discussion posting.
• Provide authentic activities; help students relate their learning to the real world.
• Provide options for students to choose how to demonstrate successful attainment of an outcome.
• Commit myself, as instructor, to active participation in discussions.
• Continue allowing rewrites, because writing is a process.
• Review collaboration tools with the students for their collaborative projects.

Adding to the list, from EDUI 6702:

• Present information and activities that take advantage of multi-modal learning styles.
• Share strategies for learning with students.
• Plan ahead so I don't revert to my preferred learning style in my presentations all the time!
• Continue to
  • provide due dates for assignments and discussion postings
  • make course materials available to students throughout the class
  • use collaborative projects; the "real world" revolves around interdependence in both tasks and relationships.
  • use Classroom Assessment Techniques by Angelo and Cross.
• Incorporate journaling assignments to help students to process their learning.
• Include students in the development of a grading rubric for course assignments.
• Institute peer review of assignments, with opportunity for revision, before submission for grading by instructor.
• Continue researching applications of constructivism to my teaching.
• Periodically re-visit my book marked Teaching Tips pages for new ideas.
• Remember that I teach because I enjoy it!