(Ch. 4) Learning Styles

Chapter 4 Learning Styles Personality assessment

Sabiduria • Two sides of learning – Knowledge – Wisdom

Your brain • Brain function contributes to learning

The brain & learning • 3 lbs • Control center – Think – Feel – Act

• Where learning takes place

Hardworking brain • Involuntary functions • Balance • Voluntary actions • Emotional reactions • Reasoning & thinking • Interpret senses

Brain Zones • The brain stem – Connects brain to spinal cord – Control basic functions

• Cerebellum – Balance & coordination

• Cerebrum – High-level functioning – Voluntary movements

The Cerebrum – A house divided • 2 hemispheres – Left • Language • Logic • Right side of the body

– Right • • • •

Art & music Imagination Non-verbal Left side of the body

On a cellular level • Functional unit of the brain – Neuron – Receive and send messages – Nerve impulse travels 200 miles an hour

Making connections • Learn  connections between neurons • Learn  FASTER

Keep your brain healthy • Diet impacts brain performance

Learning Styles • “a particular way in which the mind receives and processes information”

How can you discover your learning style? • http://learning-stylesonline.com/inventory/#online • Pg 116 of your text book

What is the value of learning style assessments? • Maximize strengths • Compensate for weaknesses • ID’s – Best way to study – Manage time – Remember material

• General guide

How do I put assessment results in perspective? • Remember – snapshot • No right answers • Try different approaches  – analyze results

• Multiple pathways

Multiple Intelligence Pathways • Howard Gardner

Multiple Intelligence Pathways • • • • • • • •

Verbal-Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Bodily-Kinesthetic Visual-Spatial Interpersonal Intrapersonal Musical Naturalistic

Verbal - Linguistic • Ability to communicate through language (listening, reading, writing, speaking)

Logical-mathematical • Ability to understand logical reasoning and problem solving (math, science, patterns sequences)

Bodily-Kinesthetic • Ability to use the physical body skillfully and to take in knowledge through bodily sensation (coordination, working with hands)

Visual-Spatial • Ability to understand spatial relationships and to perceive and create images (visual arts, graphic design, charts and maps)

Interpersonal • Ability to relate to others, noticing their moods, motivations and feelings (social activity, cooperative learning, teamwork)

Intrapersonal • Ability to understand one’s own behavior and feelings

Musical • Ability to comprehend and create meaningful sound and recognize patterns (music, sensitivity to sound and patterns)

Naturalistic • Ability to identify, distinguish, categorize and classify species or items, often incorporating high interest in elements of the natural environment

Who do you think you are? A. Verbal-linguistic B. Logical-mathematical C. Bodily-Kinesthetic D. Visual-spatial E. None of these

Who do you think you are? A. Interpersonal B. Intrapersonal C. Musical D. Naturalistic E. None of these

Take & Score the Assessment Test Page 115-116

Verbal - Linguistic SKILLS • Analyzing own use of language • Remembering terms easily • Explaining, teaching, learning using humor • Understanding syntax and work meaning • Convincing someone to do something

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Read text; highlight no more than 10% • Rewrite notes • Outline chapters • Teach someone else • Recite information or write scripts / debates

Logical-mathematical SKILLS • Recognizing abstract patterns • Reasoning inductive and deductively • Discerning relationships & connections • Performing complex calculations • Reasoning scientifically

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Organize material logically • Explain material sequentially to someone • Develop systems and find patterns • Write outlines and develop charts and graphs • Analyze information

Bodily-Kinesthetic SKILLS • Connecting mind and body • Controlling movement • Improving body functions • Expanding body awareness to all senses • Coordinating body movement

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Move or rap while you learn; pace and recite • Use “method of loci” or manipulative • Move fingers under words while reading • Create “living sculptures” • Act out scripts of material, design games

Visual-Spacial SKILLS • Perceiving and forming objects accurately • Recognizing relationships between objects • Representing something graphically • Manipulating images • Finding one’s way in space

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Develop graphic organizers for new material • Draw mind maps • Develop charts and graphs • Use color in notes to organize • Visualize material (method of loci)

Interpersonal SKILLS • Seeing things from other’s perspectives • Cooperating within a group • Communicating verbally and nonverbally • Creating and maintaining relationships

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Study in a group • Discuss information • Use flash cards with others • Teach someone else

Intrapersonal SKILLS • Evaluating own thinking • Being aware of and expressing feelings • Understanding self in relation to others • Thinking and reasoning on higher levels

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Reflect on personal meaning of information • Visualize information / keep a journal • Study in quiet settings • Imagine experiments

Musical SKILLS • Sensing tonal qualities • Creating/enjoying melodies, rhythms • Being sensitive to sound & rhythms • Using “schemas” to hear music • Understanding the structure of music

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Create rhythms out of words • Beat out rhythms with hand or stick • Play instrumental music/write raps • Put new material to songs you already know • Take music breaks

Naturalistic SKILLS • Ability to categorize something as a member of a group or species • Ability to distinguish items in a group from one another

STUDY TECHNIQUES • Break down information into categories • Look for relationships among ideas, events facts

Other learning variables

Scope of thought

Scope of thought Global Learner • “See the big picture” • “How things relate to each other” – Summarize your notes – Draw conclusions – Sketch diagrams to show how things come together – Come up with questions about the topics covered in class

Detail learner • “Learn in logical patterns” • “Like strict outlines” – Summarize notes with bulleted points – Draw diagrams to relate small pieces of into to larger themes – Make to-do lists for self – Write questions down during class – Think of examples to illustrate details