Learning Styles

I have been asked many times what is your learning style.  This is an easy question, I am a kinesthetic learner.  I have always loved science because it allowed for me to move around and do hands on activities.  This could also explain why I am an active learner.  I love working in groups and problem solving.  Of course I need steps which leads me to think that I am also a sequential learner.  Without steps to solving math equations and the scientific methods, I would become frustrated.  I believe that if I could not move around then I would learn best by visuals, but what I struggle with is auditory.  What I could not do was listen...at least not for long period of times.    My worst courses were lectures.  I also struggle with verbal and reflective.  I need people to bounce ideas off of and I need to discuss issues with people before I share them with the entire class. 

Knowing this and knowing my students, I try to accommodate all learners.  I prepare my lessons by having some type of visual that I explain for the first part of class.  This allows for me to reach my auditory and visual learners.  From there, I try to do an experiment for my kinesthetic learners.  This of course is not always the case, so what I try to do is incorporate as many styles as a can.  For instance, I have students reflect on the answer by themselves.  Then they turn around and share with their group members.  Right there I a have Incorporated active and reflective learners into my lesson.  Group work also helps my sensing and intuitive learners.  Having tiered questions allows for my sensing learners to recite the facts and my intuitive learners to explain how this concept applies to other lessons.  The great thing about technology is that it allows all learners to express themselves.  For instance, a project about severe weather can be done in multiple ways.  Visual learners usually make a PowerPoint presentation, while auditory learners give lectures and Kinesthetic learners make a video.  What is important about all this is that we reach out to as many learners as we can.  We set up stations around the rooms focused on different learners, allow for students read, listen, or participate in a lesson, and we choose assessments to accommodate everyone.  Most importantly, teachers need to make sure their learning biases do not get in the way.