Learning Style Analysis
The answer comes down to
two reasons: 1) teachers are not fully aware of every learning style and 2) teachers
do not have prior knowledge of calculating a student’s learning style through a
learning inventory. When new teachers go into their education program, we learn
about the three primary learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Reading/Writing
Learners. However, there is a total of 8 know learning styles for students. Each
learning style has its own unique connection to helping students connect more
closely with their learning abilities. The biggest kicker of processing the
data reflection of the learning inventory, students can have more than one learning
style! Before I express how a learning inventory can influence instruction, strengthen
student engagement/ interest, and strategies that be used within the classroom,
let’s review what the 8 learning styles are.
Let’s begin with the visual-Spatial
learning style. According to Dr. Lathan’s article, these types of
learners have the “ability to conceptualize and manipulate large-scale spatial
arrays (e.g airplane pilot, sailor), or more local forms of space (e.g.
architect, chess player)” (2023). A Visual learner is someone who learns
holistically rather than in a step-by-step fashion. The Bodily-Kinesthetic
learner is someone who has the “ability to use one’s whole body, or
parts of the body (like hands or the mouth), to solve problems or create
products (e.g. dancer)” (Lathan, 2023). The Kinesthetic learner is someone who
needs physical interaction with the materials they are using. The Musical
learner is someone who has “sensitivity to rhythm, pitch, meter, tone, melody
and timbre” (Lathan, 2023). This type of learner is someone who has the ability
to connect content through singing a song or composing music. The Linguistic
learner has a sensitivity to the meaning of words relating to the sound,
rhythms, inflections, and meter of words like poems. These types of learners
best understand content through reading, writing, listening, or speaking about
the material. The Logical learner is someone who has the “capacity
to conceptualize the logical relations among actions or symbols” (Lathan,
2023). A logical learner has a core need to understand what is being learned by
creating an orderly and sequenced process with the content. The Interpersonal
learner according to Dr. Lathan, is someone who has the “ability to
interact effectively with others” (2023). Thus, meaning these learners are very
sensitive to other’s moods, feelings, temperaments and motivations. These types
of learners work best when participating in a group learning project where
communication can be had with peers and adults. The Intrapersonal learner
is someone who has a “sensitivity to one’s own feelings, goals and
anxieties” (Lathan, 2023). These learners work best when they are alone and can
process what they are learning. The Naturalistic learner is
someone who connects with the world of nature. These learners connect best when
working with concepts that use plants or animals. Each one of these learning
styles have a unique role in understanding how each student uniquely connects
with their academic process. Now, let’s discuss why and how a Learning Style Inventory
is and how it supports the learning environment.
The
primary goal of a Learning Style Inventory was to help determine
which learning style a person has. The inventory is based off of the respondent’s
answering questions that closely resemble their preferences (Cherry, 2020).
When the learning style inventory is completed, educators will have a better
idea on what the student’s strengths and preferences are when it comes to
learning. According to Cherry, by understanding how to use an inventory, teachers
can design different instruction based on the styles to enhance the educational
process of the students (2020). However, academic benefits are not the only
benefits to sharing with students their learning style. It also has personal
and professional benefits that will help the learner be successful in their
future. When learners know their style, it increases self-confidence, self-image,
gives insight into personal strengths, weaknesses, and habits. This will have a
big effect on one’s curiosity and motivation and shows how to take advantage of
natural skills. The professional aspects will come later but it can help
improve cooperation among colleagues, managing teams effectively, and keep
current with professional skills. Now, I bet the next question, is once we know
the students learning styles how do we incorporate them within our daily
lessons? Next, I will share a few of my favorite strategies that incorporate
different learning styles while providing differentiated instruction to our
students.
The
first strategy would be creating Learning Stations to provide
students with different types of content. This can consist of multiple aspects
of learning styles by incorporating different activities. According to
Sinclair, students can rotate between stations that involve watching videos,
creating artwork, reading an article, completing puzzles or listening to you
teach a mini lesson (2021). These are just a few ways to incorporate the unique
learning styles where each student can experience the uniqueness of them. The
second strategy would be assigning open-ended project. By
allowing students to have a list of project options and to find one that lets
them “effectively demonstrates their knowledge” (Sinclair, 2021). According to
Sinclair, these projects both entice and challenge students but encourages them
to achieve three goals. Which relates to having students work and learn at
their own pace, engage actively with content they need to understand, and demonstrate
their knowledge as effectively as possible (Sinclair, 2021). The third strategy
would be creating different sets of reading comprehension activities. These
types of activities can be used before, during, and after an important reading
lesson. Some activities can be having student participate in literature circles,
delivering a presentation, writing a report, creating visual art to illustrate
key events, or performing a monologue as a main character. By incorporating one
of these three strategies it can allow students to challenge themselves while
utilizing their learning style strengths.
When
researching this topic and learning about the different strategies, it makes me
evaluate how I can better implement different activities to maximize student
achievement. The three students NoNa, TrZa, and MaEl are very different learners
based on the learning inventory created by Kathy Spruiell. This Learning Style profile created an easy way for students to express their interests and preferences while making it easy to gage where students fall within the learning style inventory scale. NoNa likes working in
a group with visual aids to provide guidance in both math and phonics. TrZa is
more of a tactile learner where items need to be touched to connect with skills
she is learning in both math and phonics. MaEl works better alone with using
auditory, visuals, and tactile elements when learning in both math and phonics.
Each of these students are struggling with the phoneme sounds of letters and
blending sounds to put together words. Even with guidance from an adult
pronouncing the sounds correctly for them. With the strategies that were
mentioned would help strengthen and create interests while implementing each
one of their individual learning styles. Each strategy incorporates intrapersonal,
visual-spatial, and tactile learning activities. By gaining this knowledge about
these students allow my instructional methods to be more adaptive by modifying
assignments to better support my student’s learning abilities.
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References
Cherry, K. (2020). Learning Style Inventory Types and
Their Use. Verywell Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-learning-style-inventory-2795159
Lathan, J. (2023). An Educator’s Guide to Teaching
Styles & Learning Styles. University of San Diego. Retrieved from https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/teaching-to-every-students-unique-learning-style/
Sinclair, A. (2021). 20 Differentiated Instruction
Strategies and Examples. Prodigy. Retrieved from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/differentiated-instruction-strategies-examples-download/
Spruiell, K. (2013). Learning Styles Profile Grades K-3.
Teacher Pay Teacher. Retrieved from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learning-Styles-Profile-Inventory-Grades-K-12-643364
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