Learning Styles

This week we identified and discussed learning styles. More importantly we discussed the importance of different learning styles as it pertains to being a peer mentor. It is not only important to be able to identify they way in we learn best and also recognizing the learning styles of others. We putting together a lesson or doing an activity with a group we must remember to appeal to all learning styles within the group.

All of us have spent a class period listening to a professor talk at the group for 50 minutes. Unfortunately many students today do know learn well from this teaching method. Think of a class or lecture that you have attended that had a demonstration or activity that went along with the topics in class and how much more beneficial and engaging the lesson was. Some may learn best from simply hearing the material presented to them. For me personally I need to be doing or seeing something tangible in order to learn best. Learning styles can vary from person to person and can also depend on what type of material is being discussed.

As peer mentor, we prepare lesson plans weekly so that our student will gain particle information and skills in our recitation as well as the large lecture. By including a variety of delivery methods within a lesson more students will retain more information and thus be more successful in the course.  It is important to include some lecturing and discussion, but also activities that require students to talk with those around them and even move about the room.

Creating a resume for example. It is great to discuss all of the important pieces of information to have on a resume. But you can also have students bring in what they have so far and provide feedback to one another on improvement they can make.

It will be of the most benefit all around if we prepare lessons to appeal to different learning styles. Be careful not to favor your personal learning style when preparing a lesson because there will likely be someone who learns very differently than you.