Different Strokes for Different Folks: (Learning Styles)

At first, it may seem impossible to teach to all learning styles. However, as we move into using a mix of media or multimedia, it becomes easier.

Visuals:

Visual media help students acquire concrete concepts, such as object identification, spatial relationship, or motor skills where words alone are inefficient.

Printed words:

There is disagreement about audio's superiority to print for affective objectives; several models do not recommend verbal sound if it is not part of the task to be learned.

Sound:

A distinction is drawn between verbal sound and non-verbal sound such as music. Sound media are necessary to present a stimulus for recall or sound recognition. Audio narration is recommended for poor readers.

Motion:

Models force decisions among still, limited movement, and full movement visuals. Motion is used to depict human performance so that learners can copy the movement. Several models assert that motion may be unnecessary and provides decision aid questions based upon objectives.

Visual media:

Which portray motion are best to show psychomotor or cognitive domain expectations by showing the skill as a model against which students can measure their performance.

Other topics covered at West Ed, are:

Color:

Realia:

Instructional Setting:

And there's information on Bloom's Taxonomy, if you happen to need a refresher!

Next week will be, "Learning Styles - Part Two - Know Thyself", plus personality and intelligence tests. Until then, do it with Style.

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