In what ways, if at all, do you think the concept of Learning Styles can be useful to the online instructor?
I personally feel that no one approach or single presentation style maximizes learning for all students. As an instructor, one may never know the learning styles of all the students. Thus, it is best to bring a variety in the content and expose students to multiple ways to interact with it. Try and include reading, lectures, journaling, listening to recorded podcasts or watching short screencasts.
An online instructor should consciously choose diversified teaching material and assignments (visual, auditory, kinesthetic-depending on the class) and integrate different LS modes in classroom interaction and presentations.
I think assorted study material would enable online learners to study smartly, utilizing the time more productively. Sometimes minimal adjustments in teaching learning process can impart enormous improvements in students' learning and involvement. The goal of an instructor should be to equip students with the skills associated with every LS, regardless of the students' personal preferences because they will need all of those skills to function effectively.
I agree with your statement that, 'In the same way as an instructor prepares lectures directed towards the obvious differences in students, an understanding of how students may actually be absorbing the information gives a new meaning to the facilitator-learner relationship.'
Traditional teaching methods require students to attend classes, listen to lectures, and read textbooks and articles. But, we know that these methods may not be very good at imparting knowledge. If the content is presented in the same manner every time, students may not see the immediate relevance of the content they are learning. The pedagogical approaches that connect course content to the learning styles of the students can bring out the desired outcomes.
I personally feel that no one approach or single presentation style maximizes learning for all students. As an instructor, one may never know the learning styles of all the students. Thus, it is best to bring a variety in the content and expose students to multiple ways to interact with it. Try and include reading, lectures, journaling, listening to recorded podcasts or watching short screencasts.
An online instructor should consciously choose diversified teaching material and assignments (visual, auditory, kinesthetic-depending on the class) and integrate different LS modes in classroom interaction and presentations.
I think assorted study material would enable online learners to study smartly, utilizing the time more productively. Sometimes minimal adjustments in teaching learning process can impart enormous improvements in students' learning and involvement. The goal of an instructor should be to equip students with the skills associated with every LS, regardless of the students' personal preferences because they will need all of those skills to function effectively.
I agree with your statement that, 'In the same way as an instructor prepares lectures directed towards the obvious differences in students, an understanding of how students may actually be absorbing the information gives a new meaning to the facilitator-learner relationship.'
Traditional teaching methods require students to attend classes, listen to lectures, and read textbooks and articles. But, we know that these methods may not be very good at imparting knowledge. If the content is presented in the same manner every time, students may not see the immediate relevance of the content they are learning. The pedagogical approaches that connect course content to the learning styles of the students can bring out the desired outcomes.
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