Saturday, June 11, 2011

How do people learn best?

I am of the belief that all people learn best by hands-on learning.  I think that you have to see it, hear it, feel it and do it in order to understand it.  In a perfect world it would be how we all learn best.  My opinion is mainly based on the fact that I am a kinesthetic learner so it is how I learn best. As an educator, I know that there are many learning styles and that each person learns differently.  Although, I know this I still believe that if you actually have an activity to enhance your learning0 you will learn it quicker. 

According to Rossiter (2006), answering three questions will help you understand how you learn best.
  1. "How does my brain work? (or How do I think best?)
  2. How do I process or retain information best?
  3. How do I share what I’ve learned best?"

In addition to Rossiter I embrace the theory of Howard Gardner which states that "each person has the same capacity for learning; the difference is HOW they learn. All people have a strength in one (or a combination) of the following seven intelligences:
  • Linguistic: interpreting words help them learn best
  • Logical/Mathematical: math, numerical or logical processes help them learn best
  • Movement/Kinesthetic: action or “doing something” helps them learn best
  • Musical: musical patterns and/or performances help them learn best
  • Spatial: using the patterns of open or tight spaces helps them learn best
  • Interpersonal: understanding the meaning and intent of others helps them learn best.
  • Intrapersonal: understanding one’s own feelings and motivations help them learn best."
 For more information on multiple intelligences go to the following link:

http://www.howardgardner.com/MI/mi.html
I believe that the purpose of educational technology is to enhance the learning environment and to embrace the digital age in which we live.  Learning cannot be stifled through the traditional means of education.  We must move forward and provide more rigor in classes in order for our students to compete in the global society in which they will be living on their own soon.

References
Rossiter, M.(2006)How do you learn best?Retrieved June 11, 2011 from
http://www.suite101.com/content/how-do-you-learn-best--a9003
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5 comments:

  1. john.richbourgJune 17, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    Toni,

    We are in agreement with learning best practices and the rationale for how learning is accomplished. Have you considered the eighth type of intelligence that was added to Gardener's list? This was made possible by Goodall's work with primates. I think it has some bearing on learning also.

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  2. toneytJune 17, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    Yes I have John and I would like to see more information on this in order to see how well it fits into the learning styles of students.

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  3. UnknownJune 18, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    Do you ask those questions to your students that you teach? How do you incorporate multiple intelligences when you teach? How can it be incorporated through technology?

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  4. toneytJune 18, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    I introduce to my students different scenarios of how students learn. Then I give them a MI test that tells them how they learn best. With this test I then give them a mini project that they have to complete in their weakest category of the test. After they complete it they do it again with the intelligence that they are best in. It is an eye opener to them on how they learn and maybe why some of them do poorly in other classes and excel at some.

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  5. john.richbourgJune 18, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    Toni,

    If you need further information on the intelligences, I have listed several URLs as references on my own Blog that may be of interest to you.

    ReplyDelete

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