Learning Styles

Purpose: -Review outline of sensory modality based learning styles -Confirm own preferred learning style -Reflect on the impact of personal learning style on teaching style/planning

Honey & Mumford: Learning Style Questionnaire Myers Briggs Type Indicator testing Kolb’s Learning Spiral: Experience (feeling) > Reflection (watching) > Conceptualising (thinking) > Experimenting (doing) Honey & Mumford Activists / Reflectors / Theorists / Pragmatists

V isual A uditory K inaesthetic Learn best by seeing pictures, diagrams, etc. Learn best by hearing and speaking Learn best by doing, moving, experiencing, etc.

V isual Draw pictures and diagrams Colour code your work Use different colour paper and pens Use your own system of symbols, etc. Create images or scenes in your mind

A uditory Say your work out loud – give presentations to an imaginary audience Record notes (etc.) on tape Use silly noises to remember things. Hear the information in your mind Play instrumental music

K inaesthetic Do actions when learning key facts Walk about when learning No need to sit at a desk Add emotions and textures to exaggerate information. Try to experience what you are learning

In any group of students we will find on average: 37%Kinaestheticlearners 34% Auditory learners 29% Visual learners In reality, every person has their own personal learning style… broad guide The three learning styles mentioned here are a broad guide to help you think about how you learn. all …consider how all the ideas covered here today can help you to create your own personal learning style.

V isual A uditory K inaesthetic Style-Specific Phrases sometimes what you say reflects how you think! I see what you mean It appears to me This will shed some light on the subject Show me what you mean I hear what you say That’s music to my ears It’s all Greek to me That rings a bell I feel for you I will be in touch Hold on! I can’t put my finger on it

HOW CAN TEACHERS/ASSISTANTS ADAPT THEIR STYLES TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF PUPILS? If your dominant channel is auditory (through the ears) and your teacher is a visual teacher you need to train yourself to take NOTES so you can talk it through to yourself later. If your dominant channel is visual (through the eyes) and your teacher is an auditory teacher you need to train yourself to take NOTES so you can see the words for yourself. If your dominant channel is kinaesthetic (through touch) and your teacher is either auditory or visual you need to train yourself to take NOTES so you can use the movement of writing for your learning. PUPILS NEED TO ADAPT THEIR LEARNING TO A VARIETY OF TEACHING STYLES

Some people are very visual: They have to see everything. Others don’t want to see something written down: they are the more auditory types: they have to listen to it or talk about it. Others are kinaesthetic: they have to stand and move (or fidget and doodle).

Rate each of the following statements, depending on how true you think it is of you, by drawing a ring round the number: 4: Yes, this is very true of me 3: Yes, this is true of me 2: Sort of true/don’t know 1: Hardly ever true 0: Not true of me at all

Write down your scores for each question and then add up your totals.

Imagine yourself teaching.Imagine yourself teaching. Is your learning style visible through your teaching?Is your learning style visible through your teaching? In your imagining, what were you doing which demonstrates your learning style?In your imagining, what were you doing which demonstrates your learning style?

Teachers can be sensitive to what may appear to be idiosyncratic behaviour, such as eating in class, wearing lots of jumpers or wearing caps to block out light. If teachers use multi-sensory techniques, use language and activities which appeal to different sense modalities, break teaching time up into different types of activities, vary delivery between teacher-led and pupil-centred activities, integrate activities to be undertaken alone, in pairs, small groups and teams, the learning environment will feel inclusive to a larger number of students. S. Cottrell, Teaching Study Skills and Supporting Learning

PLENARY: any comments? __________________________________ Purpose: -Review outline of sensory modality based learning styles -Confirm own preferred learning style -Reflect on the impact of personal learning style on teaching style/planning