Learning Styles Workshop

1
Learning Styles Workshop

• How do we learn? How do we teach?

2
Attendees Will

• Determine their learning style, in order to
  brainstorm teaching techniques and activities
  preferred by the 4 learning styles.
• Construct instruction plans that teach to the
  different learning styles, in order to recognize
  how learning style preferences can be addressed
  in training and instruction.

3
What Impacts Our Teaching Style?

• Our Own Learning Style
• How We Were Taught
• Instructional Content
• Size of Class

4
Student Learning Styles

• Students enter learning situations with
  established learning styles. Most teaching
  methods, however, appeal only to a certain
  learning style and handicap those who would
  prefer to learn in another way.
• Bodi, Sonia. (1990). Teaching effectiveness and
  bibliographic instruction The relevance of
  learning styles. College Research Libraries,
  51(2), 113-119.

5
Kolbs Four Phases of the Learning Cycle (pg. 4)

• Concrete Experience (CE)
• Learning by experience
• Learning from specific experiences
• Relating to people
• Being sensitive to feelings and people

6
Kolbs Four Phases of the Learning Cycle (pg. 4)

• Abstract Conceptualization (AC)
• Learning by thinking
• Logically analyzing ideas
• Planning systematically
• Acting on an intellectual understanding of a
  situation

7
Kolbs Four Phases of the Learning Cycle (pg. 4)

• Active Experimentation (AE)
• Learning by doing
• Showing ability to get things done
• Taking risks
• Influencing people and events through action

8
Kolbs Four Phases of the Learning Cycle (pg. 4)

• Reflective Observation (RO)
• Learning by reflecting
• Carefully observing before making judgments
• Viewing issues from different perspectives
• Looking for the meaning of things

9
Kolb Learning Style Inventory

• Rank the endings for each sentence according to
  how well you think each ending describes the way
  you learn (4 best represents how you learn 1
  least represents how you learn)
• Flip to the second page of the answer form and
  add up the number of points for each shape

10
Kolb Learning Style Inventory

• Take your scores for the four learning modes and
  subtract as indicated to get your two combination
  scores (pg. 6)
• Plot your 2 combination scores on the Learning
  Style Type Grid (pg. 7)
• This will indicate your preferred learning style

11
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Accommodating Strengths
• Getting things done
• Leading
• Taking risks
• Initiating
• Being adaptable and practical

12
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Diverging Strengths
• Being imaginative
• Understanding people
• Recognizing problems
• Brainstorming
• Being open-minded

13
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Converging Strengths
• Solving problems
• Making decisions
• Reasoning deductively
• Defining problems
• Being logical

14
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Assimilating Strengths
• Planning
• Creating models
• Defining problems
• Developing theories
• Being patient

15
Learning Styles Exercise

• Break into groups based on your learning style
• Brainstorm and jot down teaching techniques which
  help you learn
• Report to the other groups

16
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Accommodators Learning Preferences
• Accommodators may prefer to work with others to
  get assignments done, to set goals, to do field
  work, and to test their different approaches to
  completing a project.

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Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Teaching to Accommodators
• Combining Doing Feeling
• Verbal processing, talking, discussion
• Cooperative learning methods
• Role playing, personification techniques, games
• Lectures combined with questioning and discussion
• Real-life situations
• Sequential presentations (basics to concepts)
• Presentations that break tasks into several small
  steps
• ACRL Institute for Information Literacy 2005

18
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Divergers Learning Preferences
• Divergers may prefer working in small groups to
  gather information, listening with an open mind,
  and receiving personalized feedback.

19
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Teaching to Divergers
• Combining Feeling, Watching Listening
• Use adjectives and sensory words
• Metaphors and images
• Comparisons and contrast
• Avoid memorization and logic
• ACRL Institute for Information Literacy 2005

20
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Convergers Learning Preferences
• Convergers may prefer to experiment with new
  ideas, simulations, laboratory assignments, and
  practical applications.

21
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Teaching to Convergers
• Combining Thinking Doing
• Sequential presentation of materials
• Presentations that begin with small pieces of the
  task
• Tactile elements that demonstrate principles
• Demonstrations of problem-solving skills
• Skill and drill repetition
• Opportunities to work alone
• ACRL Institute for Information Literacy 2005

22
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Assimilators Learning Preferences
• Assimilators may prefer lectures, readings,
  exploring analytical models, and having time to
  think things through.

23
Kolbs Basic Learning Style Types

• Teaching to Assimilators
• Combining Thinking, Watching Listening
• Present the overall concept first
• Processing time alone to master material
• Avoid repetitious exercises
• Compare and contrast
• Avoid memorization, highlight patterns in
  information to facilitate recall, use mnemonics
• ACRL Institute for Information Literacy 2005

24
Learning Styles Exercise

• Scenario
• You have been tasked with training your
  colleagues to use a new database or software
  program.
• Plan to teach a class to the group opposite your
  learning style. Based on what the group just
  reported, what teaching techniques will you use?
• Report to other groups

25
Learning Styles Exercise

• Scenario
• You have been tasked with training your
  colleagues to use a new database or software
  program.
• How could we address all four learning styles?