In my teaching experience, I believe that my students learn best by doing. They need to manipulate objects, role play, create and discover. They need legitimate chances to make decisions and talk about what they are learning.
I am an advocate of the Dual Coding Theory. It states that students learn best when given more than one source of information. For example, recently I was teaching my students about the layers of the rainforest. I showed them what these layers were in a picture from a book, had them research the layers on google and had them create a picture of these layers using only cut construction paper and glue. The students were able to see the layers, make the layers and research using the computer. Using these different ways to teach a lesson leads me to the next theory I believe strongly in, Gardner's multiple intelligences.
I believe that everyone has a learning style(s) preference, whether it's musical, spatial or linguistic. I believe that tapping into many of these styles of learning will enhance every learner whether child or adult.
The days of students sitting down all day and round robin reading a story outloud are over, thankfully!!
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3 comments:
I am also glad that the days of round robin reading are over, even though some teachers still use that method. I like how you provided the example of your rain forest lesson. The students were actively involved in the learning process and I know that helped them retain more information.
Excellent point--by allowing the students to use and be exposed to a variety of methods--the learning is really of a higher level then simple memorization.
I'm a big fan of dual-coding too. As a trainer I tried to present alternative versions of the same topic wherever possible. On my better days as an instructional designer, I still try to do it.
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