Week 2 discussion responses

I need you to read the students response for the below question and I need a response to that students post - three separate responses - format the response like you are talking to the student directly and voicing your opinion about what they posted. 

Original question-  One of the most popular learning theories relates to learning styles. How would you as the instructor engage students using all of the learning styles? What other theories can enhance your instructional practices? 

 

Elizabeth  1 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 1

Learning theories are explanations of what happens when learning occurs, as well as proposing how learning translates into practice ( Merriam & Bierema, 2013). Learning style is the preferred manner in which individuals absorb, process, understand and retain information. Engaging students in learning styles has a significant influence on their level of comprehension, motivation and metacognition.

Identifying students as visual, auditory, reading/writing or kinesthetic learners is the initial step, followed by aligning overall curriculum with the learning styles embedded in the lesson. This will allow students to access the content in terms they are comfortable with. Content can be presented through power points with aids to provide that visual experience. Thereafter, having a discussion not only assists aural learners, but also helps all expand upon their understanding. To gain a deeper understanding, the read/write strategy would include rewording main ideas through written notes. For the kinesthetic piece, I would include real life examples and activities that would help with abstract concepts. This way, students can use their learning modalities to their advantage while learning new concepts.

Educational theorist Neil Fleming has created the VARK model, a student learning method, which acknowledges that students learn in different ways (Fleming, 1992). His findings help teachers create curriculum based on a guide for the various learning styles. I find his ideas helpful, as they aim to secure learning for all in a simple, yet effective manner.

 Ashley  1 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 1

I am currently teaching, as well as taking, college classes online. I foresee myself always teaching online, not because I do not see the merit of in-person education, but simply because this is the general way society is moving and I find myself already getting used to it. That said, online education comes with challenges regarding the different learning styles. For example, visual and auditory learners typically benefit more from an in-person environment, so I will have to ensure that my online classes always include videos, interactive presentations, graphics, and live lectures. For those learners that find themselves successful with reading and writing, the online environment is naturally a good fit as I can utilize assigned reading from articles and textbooks and ask my students to produce various writing assignments. This is like the current layout we are experiencing in this class. Kinesthetic learners will be at highest disadvantage in an online environment; however, technology does allow for some creativity in this area. Students and teachers can produce alternative types of lessons and assignments such as animations using PowToon, interactive presentations using Prezi, or movies using YouTube to appeal to their more “hands-on” learning approach. That said, it is important to consider our students and their level of comfort with technology before choosing the assignment. According to McKeachie (2014), “We also need to think carefully about our students, their exposure and access to technology, as well as their preferred learning styles and expectations.” Additionally, social cognitive theory will be both useful and challenging in an online setting. It is centered around the idea that much of the learning that occurs among humans is occurring in a social setting of some kind (Merriam & Bierema, 2013), which simply stated means that I must ensure my online classes include many opportunities for discussion and group interaction.

 Antwan 3 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 1

In any classroom setting, instructors will be working with students who learn in different ways. That's why teachers need to understand that they will need to engage with their students in different ways because there's no one size fits all when it comes to learning. If a student is an auditory learner, writing down information on the whiteboard, then reading it aloud helps them learn the information. Other strategies instructors should use include recording lessons for later listening and reference. Encouraging auditory listeners to 'teach others' verbally and placing them away from distractions. If they're a visual, reading/writing, or kinesthetic learners, it is going to be different. "Visual learners learn best by using images, pictures, colors, computers and any other visual media to help them learn. They will frequently say, "show me" when they want to learn something new (Svinicki & McKeachie, 2014, p. 138)." Reading/writing learns can learn by both written information presented in class in the form of handouts and PowerPoint slide presentations. Kinesthetic learners are hands-on, participatory learners who need to take a physically active role in the learning process to achieve their best educational outcomes.

Other theories that can be used is the VARK, which stands for Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic sensory modalities that are used for learning information. Neil Fleming introduced the VARK model in 1987 that was designed to help students and others know more about their individual learning preferences.