Chapter 7
Many factors contribute to how a student learns. Understanding the learning profile of a student will help the teacher address individual difference in planning and assessment. Learning styles is something we hear about frequently. A learning style is the mode in which a student learns best, whether auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc. Learning styles can be developed over time and environment while intelligence preferences are thought to be innate. Howard Gardner designated eight areas of intelligence, each once specifying the natural ability of an individual in a particular skill set. Culture is also highly important in how students learn, for often it will dictate the student’s method of interaction and collaboration with peers and teachers. This can affect group and individual assignments, as well as participation styles.
An interesting point in the section on neuroscience was that the greatest difference in learning styles as far as brain structure goes is between that of males and females. Female brains are hard wired to process linguistic skills better than boys. This could explain why girls are fabulous talkers.
I found the discussion on gender differences in learning particularly helpful. In a mixed gender classroom, it behooves a teacher to understand the different natures of boys and girls to be able to address this in planning. For instance, boys may need more hands on type activities and girl may do better with more verbal, collaborative activities. Girls are more likely to want to please their teachers, and boys may respond very well to competition-based incentives to promote learning. This could explain why bys do well in stressful learning situations.
It was the reading on gender differences that produced my AHA moment. I am coming to understand that many behavioral issues common with boys may simply be because they need frequent physical outlets to express their learning, and perhaps it is unfair to expect them to sit quietly for long periods in comparison to female students. This information will definitely help me to plan instruction that address not only learning styles and culture, but gender based differences as well.
