Joining the Conversation

Ivey Lee

Joining the Conversation

Megan Keaton

3 April 2013

“Coffee Shop Talk”

Cast: Ivey (myself), Prevention India, Lisa Leopold, Marilee Sprenger, Gayle Gregory, Carolyn Chapman, and Lin Kuzmich.

            The setting is in Charlotte, North Carolina on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where a Learning Styles Convention for teachers is being held. In between conferences, six teachers meet at the on campus Starbucks for some coffee and pastries where I happen to be drinking my afternoon coffee. While sipping coffee and enjoying their break, a conversation is sparked about learning styles and the discussion escalates. I wait until I have the basis of what the conversation is about until I interject with my own concerns.

India: I absolutely love different learning styles. I mean, there is just no other way a classroom of children can be taught without having multiple learning methods to accommodate for each child!

Leopold: Agreed 100%!

Gregory: Of course, we all agree. That’s why we’re here.

Sprenger: Exactly. I have actually learned some new information since I’ve been here, like the fact that information enters the brain through all of our senses. I had no idea that all sensory information except the sense of smell is processed the same way!

Chapman: News to me too! It does make since though. Ever person has 4 senses that help bring in information and we can’t expect for everyone to have the same preference for learning when they have four different styles they could choose from. It’s clear that everyone has different preferences and needs.

Kuzmich: Yep, exactly what I was thinking. People become partial to one sense through nature and nurture. Not everyone is born the same and raised the same so it’s natural to have different learning strategies.

Peeks head into conversation.

Ivey: Excuse me, but what exactly are learning strategies?

Leopold: Oh, this is easy. Let me explain. Learning styles are different ways in which people can learn. Each person has a different preference for learning because, well, we’re all different and we all prefer different things. There are usually three types of learners: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners learn best by making notes, underlining what he/she reads, and prefers studying alone. An auditory learner learns best through listening, verbalizing, brainstorming, and studying with a small group or partner. The kinesthetic learner learns best by doing. They learn when they are moving or interacting with the material.

Chapman: Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Ivey: I think I’m a visual learner.

Gregory fidgets with coffee.

Gregory: I’m definitely a kinesthetic learner.

Kuzmich: I can tell. You never sit still.

India: It’s common for many people to have different learning styles. One child may learn by writing notes or making diagrams, whereas another may learn by reading aloud or brainstorming.

Leopold: Yes! And that is why it is our job to find out what style fits the student and best accommodate for them. Since there are so many different styles and so many children, this can be difficult. I strongly believe that instructors should attempt to diversify their teaching to include all learning style preferences.

Sprenger: Whoa, whoa. We can’t take all the responsibility. I believe it is much more important for the student to understand his or her preferences so they can learn with their strengths.

Chapman: While I agree with you, it’s sometimes difficult for a student to know his or her strength in learning.

Gregory: Agreed. I believe it is important for teachers to be aware of the different modalities and provide adequate activates that tap into each of them during the school day. The more we as teachers can involve all modalities and learning styles, the more chance we have to engage learners in using their whole brain.

Leopold: To support this argument, I have actually heard that a mismatch in teaching and learning styles has been linked to poor academic performance. Conversely, a match between teaching and learning styles has been correlated with higher student achievement rates.

Ivey: Interesting. Honestly, I don’t even know how to measure my strongest learning style. Are there tests or do would I just realize it over time?

Kuzmich: there are definitely tests that can help determine what learning style you prefer but the best test is experience. What works best for you when memorizing things? Do you retain most information through seeing or hearing or doing? You have to experiment with all types of learning to find your preferred one.