Learning Styles Essay

There are several different suggestions and developments into learning theories and just how individuals see and apply new expertise, but probably the most explored ideas came from Peter Honey and Alan Mumford. Their learning system originated during the 1971s and was a variation within the David Kolb learning theory. Both were deduced on several key elements of learning, nevertheless where as Kolb’s system was going to follow a learning cycle simply by starting in one point or stage and then advancing along a set learning path, Sweetie and Mumford’s approach was going to identify the training preferences of the individual student with a view to structuring learning materials and experiences around that preferred learning design or styles.

The idea is that a favored learning style or a mixture of the several main variations would make learner having the capacity to absorb, appreciate and apply new information more quickly and effectively, rather than the ‘one style fits all’ approach, just like theory simply or useful only work sessions. Sweetie and Mumford’s four main learning design preferences can be briefly described under the pursuing four headers, along with one or two confident and bad factors. Activist-Now, let me get on with it! Active supporters and workers like to experience things immediately. They are keen and just like a challenge whenever using others through new concerns and are generally unbiased and are wanting to contribute during group conversations.

Reflectors-Wait, sum-up look prior to you jump. Reflectors like to sum-up a scenario and view a problem or perhaps discussion via various viewpoints before making or expressing virtually any opinions they may have without the feeling of becoming rushed. They may be initially calm within a group and just like the time to manage to sit back and absorb information and listen to others ahead of digesting this and giving their own sights. They do not function well below strict or perhaps rushed circumstances and shy away from leading group discussions or perhaps activities.

Immediate questioning with out time to think would as well cause a bad learning environment for someone in whose learning design is that of a reflector. Theorist-What is this intended for? What is the primary goal? Methodical Theorists happen to be methodical and prefer to operate a structured and logical style that requires a few application of existing knowledge.

They will often view things in black and white, however are able to take on new ideas without the need pertaining to an immediate reference to a relevant theme. Questioning of ideas and theories and the way to develop options also extremely important to a theorist. They do not want to work in a great unstructured trend with no collection goal or perhaps conclusion.

Guidelines must be obvious and if associated with a group activity, then they should be working with people of a comparable learning style. e. g. Reflector and Theorist Pragmatists-practical and ready to accept new tips They do not work or find out effectively if you have no obvious advantage to a task or perhaps information. They might require a starting point or reference and need a various learning methods, such as equally theory and practical. Here are several practical samples of these several different learning styles.

Eager beaver Martin is known as a 16 yr old guitar player that is enthusiastic the moment working in a performance group, is reasonably permissive to concepts and offers good interaction skills. This individual does however; tend to above shadow less busy members from the crew during discussion posts and struggles when things have to be slowed up and problem solver strategies put in place. He as well finds it difficult to focus when asked to work on repeated sections of material. This has also translated into his specific practice, concerning be able to perform certain sections of songs for instance a complicated single; he has already established to work on repetitive technical exercises to improve.

He discovers this monotonous and this features hindered his progress also to some extent, his enthusiasm to better himself when returning to familiar problem areas. Remedy: Develop a selection of exercises to improve the same troublesome technique and apply to a short rotated practice routine. Reflector Solution: Try to organise useful tasks since individual or perhaps in more compact groups with less focus on time vices. Encourage efforts and substitute views when having a class discussion trying to bring his input frontward before everybody else has made input.

Use question and solution techniques in smaller sized groups to provide opportunity for feedback from every learners. Theorist Steve can be described as 19 yr old guitar player and although he was reasonably skilled on his tool he do initially find it difficult to progress within a group overall performance environment when first starting the course. The situation seemed to be the fact that rest of his group were quite happy to just ‘go with the flow’ and try out new tips even if there were no evident or instant result.

This individual however , necessary to work in a more structured vogue and this caused some disadvantages during rehearsals. There was also a lack of eagerness from Dorrie during these classes and this bought about a few interesting talks and sights to conversation within a wedding rehearsal space. Answer: Awareness of others needs in a group environment through debate and issue and solution sessions. Put into action different ways to learning and experimenting with fresh materials, just like rehearsal preparing, song examine and breakdown and usage of recourses including white table and wise board.

A variety of different methods had a positive result within the group overall. Steve offers since progressed into an important and occasion extremely influential part of his group, demonstrating wider communication expertise and particular leadership qualities. Pragmatist Chelsey is a seventeen year old bass sounds player who have only getting playing for 2 years and although she’s extremely excited and eager to learn, this lady has struggled when ever trying to tackle theory structured topics.

The moment questioned regarding this it became very clear that your woman could not start to see the link or relevance between the theory and practical issues being covered during different session onto her timetable which she would still find it easier in the event she may see how these types of topics were being covered in a practical impression. Solution: Following discussing this kind of with Chelsey and her bass teacher, it was determined that she would take virtually any theoretical topic into her instrumental periods and talk about practical applications for them. This may involve some discussion followed by an acceptable demonstration then application by simply Chelsey. Applications to true to life situation/uses pertaining to the Sweetie and Mumford learning variations.

Initial examination Key skills-Numeracy and Literacy Honey and Mumford-1992-Learning Variations Vark-2006-Learning Designs References and useful sites. www.peterhoney.com Questionnaires and other data www.seda.ac.uk/events/manage/burton.ppt#282,1,Plan Learning cycle and presentation including diagrams plus some dates. www.openlearn.ac.uk/mod/resource Starts with Kolb then movements onto H&M http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/david+kolb David Kolb Learning styles http://www.shambles.net/pages/staff/Lstyles/default2.asp “The Luton Grid for Learning has a fascinating on-line activity, composed of 40 queries aimed to support individuals learn how they prefer to learn. Based on the work of Gardner, the ‘Multiple intelligences’ activity is a simple-to-use questionnaire that, when completed, attracts a steering wheel of your recommended learning styles”. 12 Learning styles www.khake.com/page69.html Teaching solutions