Learning Styles: Differences In Children’s Minds

Learning Styles: Differences In Children’s Minds

Many Community college students are unable to exit remedial college preparatory programs and advance into credit courses (Rochford 2003). Experts may say it is due to the inability of teachers to teach using methods. Different people may have different learning styles. Student populations have become more diverse, the ability to teach to the needs of different learners has become increasingly important (Haar, Hall, Schoepp, & Smith 2002).

Learning styles refer to the way students concentrate on, process, internalize, and recall new and difficult information. Most people have preferences, but individual preferences differ. The stronger the preference, the more important it is to provide compatible instructional strategies (Rochford 2003).

The Dunn and Dunn Learning-style model illustrates elements that influence that way people learn new material. Great achievement while introducing new material may be achieved if certain stimuli are considered:

· Environmental - sound, light, temperature, design

· Emotional – motivated, persistent, structure, responsible

· Sociological – alone, pair, peers, team, adult, varied

· Physiological – food, time, mobility

· Psychological – global, analytic (Rochford 2003).

Understanding these stimuli is the first step in mastering the art of teaching

the correct method to the correct learning style. The three basic learning styles include the visual, the auditory, and the kinesthetic learner. Each type of learner has distinct characteristics and skills.

Visual Learning

Visual learners need to see the material. Information seen in charts, diagrams, or pictures is remembered...

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... http://bcps.org/offices/lis/models/tips/styles/html

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