Skip to main content

Learning Styles and Preferences

Chapter 4: Discovering your Students

From Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors
PSIA , © 2001

An individual’s learning style is determined by how she or he receives, processes and absorbs information.
Learning Process (figure 2.2, pg. 13)

• Readiness – The circumstances surrounding the learning situation (physical, environmental, social, emotional)

• Reception – the preferred sensory input mode for the individual learner

• Processing – the method of digesting and absorbing information (brain hemisphere dominance)

• Reaction – what the individual does with the information

Kolb – Perception and Processing
Perception
• The way a person collects the information to be learned
• Big picture learners (“feelers”) > Parts learners (“thinkers”)

Processing
• How we mentally manipulate information to help us learn it
• “Refective observers” (watchers) > “active experimenters” (doers)

Type 1 – Innovative Learners – Why?

• See the whole first and then the parts
• Sense the world and reflect on it before making decisions about learning
• Often sensitive and creative
• Good at sharing
• Learn best in discussions
• Place emphasis on making sense of the world
• Favorite question is why

Type 2 – Analytical Learners – What?
• Quiet observers
• Perceive details first, then develop understanding of whole
• Analytical and studious, Organized and detailed
• Needs to know what needs to be done and sets a plan


Type 3 – Active Experimenters– How?
• Proceed from details to whole
• Learn best when actively engaged in manipulating and using the concept
• Pragmatic and practical experimenters
• How things work and how they can be used to solve problems

Type 4 – Dynamic Learners – What If?
• Sensory
• Proceed from whole to parts
• Need to be actively engaged in learning situation
• People person learners
• Try gut solutions to problems

Multiple Intelligences
All students are gifted in one way or another
Howard Gardner described the theory of multiple intelligences
Intelligence is the ability to use a skill

1. Verbal-Linguistic
Love of words and language, listening or telling stories

2. Logical-Mathematical
Asks why and how, recognizes patterns, follows logical steps to solve problems

3. Spatial
Active imagination, adept at manipulating objects in space, sensitive to balance of objects, likes to draw or design

4. Bodily-Kinesthetic
Desire to move, ability to move skillfully, often seen touching or manipulating something

5. Musical-Rhythmic
Propensity for sounds and rhythm and making music

6. Interpersonal
Adept in social situations, discerns emotional states of others

7. Intrapersonal
Likes solitude, thinks a lot , understands weaknesses and strengths

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

VAK - Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic

Visual learners These students learn best by watching and imitating others. The following guidelines are helpful when teaching visual learners. • Ski well-executed demonstrations that illustrate the point. Be careful not to exaggerate and destroy the picture of good skiing. • Target the students’ attention to a certain part of your body or to particular movements.

Learning Styles – Doers, Feelers, Thinkers, Watchers

A learning style is the way a person’s sensory, perceptual, memorial, decision-making, and feedback mechanisms operate. Or more simply, the preferred technique to approach learning. Some students have a dominant style and others are comfortable in more than one. PSIA references different theories on learning styles, this is a classic one. Doers Values active experimentation Pragmatic, practical, functional Good problem solvers, work well with others Constantly active, doesn’t like being idle and gets frustrated with too much talking Learn by experimenting, trial and error Instructor should provide experiences that will guide the child Experiential learning is an effective method for all students

Getting the most out of a clinic

This is from a series of posts based on my experiences at The Hartford Ski Spectacular/PSIA-ASSI Adaptive National Academy in Breckenridge, CO. I used to go to PSIA/ASSI clinic and walk away with a nugget or two that would really click.  But at some point I thought I was spending too much money to just get one or two things (while having a good time on the snow and making friends). Here’s what I do to get more out of a clinic I carry my cute argyle notebook in my front pocket with a pen to every clinic.  The silhouette looks funny poking out of my jacket, but I’m OK with that. The mechanical act of writing helps me remember. If the weather is OK, I jot down notes on the chairlift or the side of the hill. Sometimes this means I’m skiing after the group whilst trying to put my gloves and pole straps on.  It would be funny for the group if anyone was around to see it but they are usually gone. If it’s too cold, snowy or rainy I jot down notes inside.  I will ...