Ohana-Learning Styles

Reaching Them All:Reaching Them All:

Using Learning Styles to Teach Using Learning Styles to Teach More EffectivelyMore Effectively

CARLOS F. CAMARGO, PH.D.OHANA FOUNDATION

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What Do You Know?

Using the paper provided by the facilitator, identify what you already know about learning styles by creating one of the following:

• Essay• Outline• Concept map

An example of a mind map is in your manual in Appendix A on page 26.

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Discussion

o What are some key areas you identified about Learning Styles?

o What did you think of this technique?• Do you think you would find it more

difficult to assess an outline or a concept map compared to an essay?

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Objectives

o Identify three main learning styles in the Sarasin model

o Determine your personal learning styleo Define characteristics of each styleo Develop strategies for reaching each styleo Select appropriate teaching methods to

meet the course outcomes of a given course

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What is a Learning Style?

o “A certain pattern of behavior and/or performance according to which the individual approaches a learning experience, a way in which the individual takes in new information and develops new skills, and the process by which the individual retains new information or new skills.”

-Sarasin, 1999

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Influences on Learning Styles

o Environmento Personalityo Biology/genetics

• 3/5 is genetically determined (Dunn, 1990)

o Developmental• May change learning styles as student

matures (Kolb, 1984)

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Do Labels Matter?

o Each author has his/her own theory and label for how students learn

o Research is ongoing, particularly with adult learners

o Focus is on what faculty can do to improve student learning

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Sarasin-1999

o Auditory• Learns best by hearing information

o Visual• Learns best by seeing information in

some kind of visual form

o Tactile/Kinesthetic• Learns best by being physically and

actively involved in learning

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What Does it Mean?

o Ohana TEFL encourages students to learn their style according to the Sarasin model:• Auditory, Visual, Kinesthetic

o Each student learns differentlyo Instructors need to try and reach as many

students as possibleo Certain methods can reach more than one

type of students

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What’s My Style?

o Complete the learning style quiz provided to you by the facilitator

o Select the best answer to the question, realizing that occasionally no answer will match completely

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Activity

o Break into groups by your learning style

o Answer the questions on the sheet provided by the facilitator

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Auditory Learner Descriptors

o Abstract sequentialo Reflectiveo Independento Achievement-orientedo Memory-orientedo Competitiveo Skill-oriented

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Auditory Learners in the Classroom

o Learn best by hearing • Lectures and/or audiotapes

o Distract easily• Noise or music

o Talk to self aloudo Participate in class discussions

• Need time to consider ideas before speaking

o Tape and then listens to lectures latero Use mnemonic devices

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Visual Learner Descriptors

o Abstract randomo Globalo Concreteo Activeo Affectiveo Field-sensitiveo Concept-oriented

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Visual Learners in the Classroom

o Like graphics, pictures, diagramso Find verbal instructions difficult as mind

sometimes wanders o Likes to read, generally a good spellero Doodles frequently, usually organizedo Has good handwritingo Notices details

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Kinesthetic Learner Descriptors

o Dependent and independento Creativeo Behavioralo Needs interactiono Physical by natureo Sensoryo Active

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Kinesthetic Learners in the Classroom

o Likes motion and physical application of information

o May prefer other activities other than reading – could be poor speller

o Uses hands while speakingo Works through problems physically –

translates brain to body quickly

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Activity

o Review the student descriptions on the sheet the facilitator provided

o Identify each student’s learning styleo Form a group of 3 with the people on

either side of you and share your resultso Identify any areas of disagreement and

come to a group conclusion

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What Difference Does My Style Make?

Your learning style affects the way you structure:• Quizzes/tests• Presentations• Lectures• Demonstrations• Lab time

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Current Research Shows

o “A relationship between learning styles and teaching styles is a factor in the success of postsecondary students.” (Sarasin, 1999)

o James Anderson (1985) says that the interaction among teaching styles and learning styles and the classroom environment is primary to the structure and process of learning.

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How Can I Use This in Class?

o Design activities that meet all types of learning styles

o Change activities often• Every 15-20 minutes of class time

o Use activation to gain attentiono Be aware of your learning method

when planning your class

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Auditory Activation Activities

o Verbal questioningo Focusing using directive questionso Verbal sharing or interaction

• Has this ever happened to you? What do you think about this?

o Reword directions, expectations and important points

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Auditory Instructional Activities

o Lectureo Discussiono Activities that involve memoryo Verbal sortingo Individual work

• Students will keep a running commentary in their heads while working. Also appeals to their competitive nature

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Auditory Assessment Techniques

o Allow students to give oral presentationo Question and answer sessiono Include questions on tests that appeal to

their concrete, ordered nature• Multiple choice• Ranking

o Allow them to conduct and present an original research project• Concentrates on independent nature

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Visual Activation Activities

o Add visual aids to instructionso Focusing using writing as a responseo Include visual stimuli in explanationo Use graphics, charts, diagrams to gain

attentiono Provide a “big-picture” view

• Appeals to their holistic method of learning

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Visual Instructional Activities

o Visual formats• PowerPoint appeals to both visual and auditory

o Models and demonstrationso Videoso Mind (concept) mapso Field trips

• Appeals to their holistic view of the concepto Group work

• Appeals to their social nature

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Visual Assessment Techniques

o Problem-based learningo Case studyo Projectso Tests that include essay or short-

answer questionso Mind maps

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Kinesthetic Activation Activities

o Questioning based on physical interactions with objects

o Focus techniques that involve object interaction or manipulation

o Discuss materials to be used in the upcoming lesson, allow students to get hands-on view

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Kinesthetic Instructional Activities

o Internships/Co-opo Field tripso Experiential learning/labso Group work that involves movemento Simulations and demonstrationso Active learning

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Kinesthetic Assessment Techniques

o Role-playo Demonstration of concept to otherso Build a replicao Design/conduct a simulationo Create a lab environment and

experiments

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Activity Design

o Review the course outcomes provided by the facilitator

o Select one outcome and design an activity for each type of learner that includes:• Activation• Instruction• Assessment

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In Closing

o Answer the following questions:• What still confuses you about learning

styles?• What are you going to do differently as

a result of this session?

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Questions?