WR4  Learning Styles:
Assessment and Accommodation

 

Objective -  By the end of the lesson given instructions and Web sites, scholars will:

·         Access and read "Introduction to Learning Styles" by Marcia L. Conner

·         Access and read "Peer Assistance and Review" from University of Toronto

·         Read and take the ELSIE test at "One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words:  Not Necessarily" by Harry Reinert

·         Access and read "Multiple Intelligences:  An Overview" at teachervission.com

·         Take the "Multiple Intelligence Test" provided by Nial Douglas

·         Write and submit a report in memo format to the class-at-large via e-mail by the due date syllabus



Assignment Description

The topic for this assignment deal with how student take in, process, and retrieve information.  A great deal of research has been done in this area, especially for adult learners.  Interest in this area promotes research down to the costly process of brain-mapping to determine exactly where and how information is processes.  For example, language acquisition in children occurs in the frontal lobe of the brain.  This is where thought processes takes place and is the area of the brain protected by your forehead.  In adults, language acquisition takes place in the parietal lobe.  This portion of the brain on the side and toward the back of your head is responsible for motor function such as the process of hearing, speaking and muscle movement.  Studies by researchers such as Dryer et al. (1999), Languis (1998, Esler (1998), and Smith and Jonides (1997) suggest that children can acquire a second language by passive education but adults need participation emersion to become fluid in a second language.  This phenomenon offers insight into the success or lack thereof by adult learners.

Does the above information hold any significance to you personally?  Draw upon your own experience as an adult learner as you explore this week's assignment.  Consider the degree of success versus the degree of effort behind your educational experience as a child and more recently as an adult. 

Access and read "Introduction to Learning Styles" by Marcia L. Conner and "Peer Assistance and Review" from University of Toronto.  Take the One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words:  Not Necessarily" by Harry Reinert to determine your learning style.  You will need someone to assist you by reading the words on the list to you, but be honest.  Not preview the list before you do the test.   Also, take the "Multiple Intelligence Test" provided by Nial Douglas.  These are only two of many tests available to evaluate learning styles and multiple intelligences.  I have used the Reinert for about 15 years not and find it to be very informative and effective in my teaching and for my students.

Write a report following the memo format described in the first assignment.  The report will be e-mailed to the class-at-large using the "Send mail" feature in NiceNet.  Reports should include all the following elements.

Drawing upon your experience as both an educator and a student, discus your own success and workload in traditional "lecture" courses you've taken in the past as well as your students' success in "lecture only" courses you have taught, if any.  Given the information in the two articles do you feel assessing and accommodating learning styles would have altered the outcome in the above courses?  Support your conclusion with specifics.  Reference specific quotes from each article. 

As an educator, do you feel either learning styles or multiple intelligences is more practical than the other?  Could you easily introduce one into your course easier than the other.  Which on would best benefit your students?  How could you incorporate your preferred approach into your teaching?   Identify the courses you teach and draw on specific examples and topics.  For example, if you teach automotive and prefer the learning styles approach, in what way can your lectures address all four learning styles.  If you prefer the multiple intelligences approach, how could your labs address all eight multiple intelligences.  You may choose to use both strategies if you choose.

 

Grading Criteria

This assignment is worth 10% of your grade. 

Reports meeting the following criteria will receive an "A." 

·         References to "Introduction to Learning Styles" by Marcia L. Conner (2 points)

·         References to "Peer Assistance and Review" from University of Toronto (2 points)

·         Read and take the ELSIE test at "One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words:  Not Necessarily" by Harry Reinert (2 points)

·         Take the "Multiple Intelligence Test" provided by Nial Douglas (2 points)

·         Write and submit a report in memo format to the class-at-large via e-mail by the due date (2 points)

 

Extra Credit

Option 1

Use the template provided below to develop a lesson plan for one of your lectures (no lab) in which each of the four learning styles cited above is accommodated.  Be sure to list the component and the specific learning style it will address.  For example, if your lesson plan is on the Declaration of Independence,  how will your lecture address reading, auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners specifically. (2 points)

Option 2

Distance learning is becoming more and more prevalent each year.  With distant learning it is more difficult to accommodate individual student needs.  For an additional challenge, develop a lesson plan that will accommodate all four learning styles in a distance learning format on-line. (5 points)

Lesson Plan Template

 

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