Is the Utilization of Learning Styles Necessary?

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There is a great debate raging throughout the educational system in America today. At the heart of this battle is the question over whether or not educators should alter their lesson plans to reflect the learning styles of their students. Many of us have heard someone say, “I couldn’t figure out what they were saying, but once they showed me how I was able to do it.” This is an example of someone’s learning style. A learning style is the way a person prefers to process, internalize, and remember new information or concepts. On one side of this debate are those educators that believe students should adapt to the teacher’s way of teaching, and that some students will just have to try harder than others to be successful learners. Then there are educators who see it as the teacher’s responsibility to give each student a chance to learn while utilizing their own unique learning style. When students are given a chance to actively participate in the learning process not only are they more eager to learn they are also more likely to succeed throughout their academic careers.

Many educators say that there are just too many variables to consider when determining a person’s learning style, which makes it nearly impossible to correctly identify every student in the classroom setting. While it is true that there are many variables that make up an individual’s learning style, several can be learned by the educator through simple observation and interaction with the students. These would include such items as the lighting or the temperature in the room and the effect they have on the students. The amount and type of noise in the classroom can also provide clues to the students’ learning styles. By simply observing the students and noting things...

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...imply do not realize that not everyone learns the same? The next time you hear an educator say, “I just do not know why so and so is not trying to learn.” Maybe you should ask, “What’s their learning style?” It could be your opportunity to educate the educator.

Works Cited

Bart, Mary. "Do Learning Styles Matter?." Faculty Focus 11 May 2009. Web. 09 Feb 2011. .

Fleming, Neil. "Coping with a Revolution: Will the Internet Change Learning?." VARK. Neil Fleming, 2009. Web. 09 Feb 2011. .

Pashler, Harold, Mark McDaniel, and Robert Bjork. "Learning Styles Concepts and Evidence." Psychological Science in the PUBLIC INTEREST 9.3 (2008): Web. 09 Feb 2011. .

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