Well I've taken the test, twice! I seem to have misplaced the results for the first one and didn't remember to copy and save. Would be interesting to compare them both.
So I've taken the test, but Felder and Soloman are temporarily unavailable to decipher what this all means to me. Until I can get some understanding I just have to give you what I believe is my Learning Style and later we'll see if I was right or not.
I believe I'm typically a visual learner, but also like to be quite hands on. I was that child at school who while the teacher was reading to the class The Chronicles of Narnia, I was thinking about the plaits I was going to put in my Barbies hair that afternoon. Then when it came time for a book report I would cry because I didn't have a clue about what I was supposed to be listening to. Maybe the book was just boring. Actually it was probably the teachers voice putting me to sleep.
I definately can't sit and listen to long winded instructions or information without my mind transporting to another place. Give me some pictures with colour, sound and music and definately movement.
In a traditional classroom of 25 students, how would you support the range of learning styles each lesson?
Firstly I would try and identify the children with learning dificulites that need extra support and students who may be very disruptive to the class. If I can retain the focus of these children, chances are I'll have the whole class engaged. A powerful tool for doing this is ICT, as we can either work collectively with the aide of an Interactive White Board, with children taking turns to manipulate and change what they see; or working independently or in pairs with a laptop.
ICT supports many varied learning styles because of the visual, kinaesthetic and auditory processes involved.
Watching what can typically be a boring delivery of a maths lesson using traditional means, can be extremely engaging when utilising ICT tools. Interacting with colour, sound and movement, I feel, is highly beneficial to todays learner.
With you current knowledge of ICT, how could your design and digital pedagogy support your learners better?
- I would definately have the use of an IWB in my classroom to implement class lessons.
- Using the internet to find resources/ideas to better supplement my program.
- Using school based websites such as Learning Place.
- Allowing students access to laptops and the internet, Ipods, and technologies such as BeeBots, (programable electronic bugs).
What sorts of profiling questions would you be asking about your learners to ensure you cater for everyone's preferences?
- Do you prefer to work in a class situation, being instructed through the task as a whole or independently at your own pace?
- Would you feel more comfortable working with like learners in small group situations at your groups level?
- Would you feel comfortable leaving your desk to use the IWB in front of the class?
- Do you like to have instructions explained visually/verbally or both?
- Do you feel more comfortable writing or typing?
How does ICT support differences in learning styles?
Children who struggle learning using traditional means can have access to a huge array of ICT tools to make their learning easier and more enjoyable.
Individually they can use laptops and Ipods, or as a whole class, collaboratively using the IWB.
Either of these methods of delivery is hugely effective as they both have a seemingly endless supply of learning applications available.
Programs like Spelling Machine and Wordle are great for non-confident spellers and readers as it makes learning fun and interactive.
Makaton/Auslan - signing for hearing impaired. Visual aides can be loaded onto personal Ipods with children learning that at the press of a button they can access a voice.
Can you answer this?
Why do State School's have to struggle to have enough laptops for each classroom?
