Learning Styles: Not as important as we think

Learning styles, how does someone learn?  Can it be pinpointed to one particular style?  Do students only learn when taught to their style?  Is there a right answer to these questions…I don’t think so, but I think everyone has their own ideas and opinions on learning styles, especially teachers and educators who work with students day in and day out. 

Why the focus on learning styles?  I think it is another way to show schools are implementing comprehensive programs and offering children in their community a balanced education.  Schools don’t want to give community members and parents a chance to say you did not teach my child in their learning style and that is why they didn’t succeed so they push for teachers to constantly update and change their model of instruction. 

Just like with everything you have a preference on certain things and the same goes for learning.  Someone may be a visual learner and prefer to be taught that way, but that doesn’t mean that is the only way they can learn.  I personally have never liked math and no matter what style it was presented I don’t think I would like it, however I was able to successfully complete math courses because I wanted to push myself to get through it.  A large part of learning and success falls under motivation.  Do you even want to learn what is being taught?  It doesn’t matter if it is your best subject, if you are not motivated or had a bad morning before school; chances are you will not preform your best.

Good classroom instruction involves a teacher that introduces a lesson topic in a way that students can relate to.  Using a students name in a problem or a story to grab their attention, and allowing students to explore the topic through various methods.  Give open ended assignments that allow technology rich students to create PowerPoint’s and videos, while the art student can create a painting, while the writer writes a poem all on the same topic and come together to share ideas and perspectives.  Each student is able to focus on his or her interests while covering the same topic.

Teachers need to be a support system for all students and understand their preferred method and work with the student to foster their knowledge.  Build a relationship and trust so when a student is struggling to grasp a concept they wont be afraid to come to their teacher to ask for help.  They don’t need to give up because it is not the style they like, teachers are there to help guide them and get them to see their potential.  No matter the style they can tailor it to their own a little and get through.    

So are there learning styles?  Yes I do believe there are but I do not think they are too strong.  Focusing on motivation, classroom bonds and relationships, and topic can lead to learning for all.  

Situated Cognition: New Wave of Education?

Situated cognition used in a classroom setting allows students the chance to discover the “how” when it comes to knowledge and why things are the way they are.  Not just teaching facts, but delving deeper and opening up discussions and hands on learning through activities, and group work, for example.  How can it be implemented into a classroom..

• ·         In math, create a store in the classroom and give students real money to make purchases, keep a budget, practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication while shopping.  Students can see just how math and basic math facts affect their everyday life.  This is a much better representation of how math is related to the world then giving students a worksheet with 3X12 and ask them to solve the answer.  Students don’t even think they are doing math when in the shopping environment, they can figure out how quickly the math is but when asked to fill out a worksheet it becomes more of a struggle.  “By offloading part of the cognitive task on to the environment, the student automatically uses their environment to help solve a problem” (Brown, 1989).

As educators we teach students in order to prepare them for their future and help them become successful members of society.  Why should schools continue to use practices that only give students the knowledge of what something does not the why and the how?  In life there is not always one easy concrete answer and students should be prepared on how to work through and deal with this by collaborating with others, thinking outside of the box or through a different perspective, investigating a topic further, etc.  So when planning lessons teachers need to think outside the box, make learning fun and relatable.  Yes it may take more time and effort to create a lesson that correlates to a student’s life but they will gain so much more from it then just being handed a worksheet. 

While in school getting my degree, I think I can honestly say I believe I learned the most when I started my internships and was thrown into the school setting.  The hands on experience speaks much highly then sitting in a classroom. You can relate what you learned to your personal experiences and it is all connected but it did not fully sink in until I was in the field myself, practicing what I had been taught and collaborating with other professionals.  The same needs to be done with our students today, provide them with introductory knowledge and then let them explore, interact and apply the topic to their world first hand and in turn find the connection.

Brown,J .  (1989). “Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning”.  Educational Researcher, Vol. 18,              No.1. (Jan. - Feb., 1989), pp. 32-42.

Omrod, J.E.  (2012). Human Learning (6^th ed.).  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 

Module 4 Vygotsky

Vygotsky’s theories are rooted in the idea of independence, allowing people the chance to learn through observation and discovery.  These ideas can easily be seen in an educational setting. 

Vygotsky believes that we develop internal mental activities just through socialization with peers and culture.  Our society is one that quickly learns and adapts new ideas and strategies based on what they see others doing.  For example, social media sites have grown tremendously over the years to the point where their names are well known and words like hashtag are common knowledge.  Society influences how people dress, act, etc, especially students.  Social interaction and culture helps mold them into the individuals they become. 

Vygotsky’s idea that a task a student can’t perform independently but with guidance from someone else is called zone of proximal development.  This is where problem solving skills come into play and the student can bounce ideas around and see the thought process it takes to get the correct answer, all while getting the necessary support and guidance.  Using this in a classroom with several students allows for students to compare ideas and notes, helps students to see that its okay to be wrong the first time and receive the support and guidance to help them along the way.   Instead of just giving students the answer, or teaching directly in line with the answer does not allow for any creativity and thought.  It is interesting to hear how a student processes a problem or topic and the more ideas and possibilities can help allow for a further understanding and grasp on the task.  Planning activities that students of various levels can get something out of allows for a cooperative classroom.  The teacher assigns the activity, which is something everyone has the capability to learn, students try it on their own and with the help from each other, and those who master the activity quickly can deepen their understanding by completing further activities involving the same topic and those that need more time can use it, all while having the light guidance of the teacher along the way.

Allowing students the chance to observe peers around them and adapt ideas and mannerisms they agree with and allowing students the chance to explore while learning, not just focusing on the answer but what it takes to get there helps foster independent learners.  We are working as teachers to guide students in the direction to become successful members of society one day and Vygotsky’s theories help us as teachers achieve this.