Enjoy my podcast as an Introduction to Learning Preferences. You will also be able to read along using the digital
eText file. For follow up students can place the digital text into a talking word processing software, the text will be highlighted as it is read. This practice is a common basic
assistive technology which addresses multiple learning modalities for the presentation of information.
http://media.odeo.com//files/1/2/4/583124.mp3Digital
eTextPodcast E-text Dr
BJ Gallagher Introduction to Learning Preferences
The single most important strategy to use during instruction to best meet the learning needs of our students is to vary learning preferences. By presenting information using a multitude of sensory input methods, perceptual/organizational styles, personality styles, and multiple intelligences, you allow students the flexibility to connect information within their individual brains. This practice sets them up for instant success.
Our brains are composed of numerous neural pathways. These pathways develop throughout our lives as a result of our brains receiving and processing information from the world around us. The development of these neural pathways builds over time and is based in our life’s experiences.
Initially we think of sensory styles when talking about learning preferences. Some researchers have identified up to 19 different senses that we use daily. However, for our purposes we will be looking at the four most used. The use of various learning preferences need to make sense for the specific learning objective. The visual, auditory, tactual and
kinesthetic are the key senses that we will highlight. In the face to face classroom, we could add olfactory (sense of smell) and gustatory (sense of taste) when including those senses is appropriate to the learning objective. Since education has focused on the visual and auditory presentation of information in the form of reading, lecture, and discussion, our challenge is to figure out ways to infuse other sensory learning preferences.
Perceptual and organization preferences typically deal with whether you have right or left brain function tendencies. Information is processed perceptually when we speak of concrete, the real object, or abstract, the symbol of an object. We organize information in either a sequential fashion or a global fashion. The right and left sides of the brain are connected which means that our goal should be how can we utilize all areas of the brain and making the learning environment brain-compatible.
Personality tendencies also play an integral role in how we approach tasks and interact with others. These tendencies need to be addressed to make the e-Learning experience one that facilitates learning and does not set up blockades for individual learning.
Finally, the work of Howard Gardner and his theory on Multiple Intelligences has a direct impact on learning. Not only do we need to be concerned how information is presented, we also need to be concerned about how our learners will present their responses demonstrating what they have learned.
Our first challenge must be to understand our own learning preferences so that we can begin to see how we best learn and teach ourselves skills. So sit back as we begin to figure out individually how we learn best. As we review resources and learn more in this and future courses about learning preferences, keep in mind our biggest challenge…how can we engage our learners using multiple learning preferences in cyberspace?
