Question Three

Part of a teacher’s role is to be aware of and have an understanding of the different learning styles within their class.

Every child has a different intelligence or learning style. This is the way that the prefer information to be presented to them. When facts and information are presented to certain people in certain ways they learn better from it. The better a child understands the information given to them the more likely deep learning and effective teaching and learning are likely to occur.

The different learning styles include:
Linguistic: involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals.
Logical: consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically.
Musical: involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms.
Kinaesthetic: entails the potential of using one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements.
Spatial: involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas.
Interpersonal: is concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others.
Intrapersonal: entails the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations.

I think that it is because of these multiple intelligence with such wide variety that online learning can be so effective in classrooms.

A teacher is automatically going to be bias towards teach8ing in a way that would best be learnt by their own learning style. With multiple intelligences this is the first obstacle that teachers must overcome.

The next is figuring out a way in which all learning styles can be included into their lessons. No one classroom will ever be filled with students who all learn exactly the same way. For this reason teachers need to find a way in which to perhaps teach to the dominant learning style but in no way ignoring or disadvantaging the other learning styles.

This is where ICT and computers come in as this is one of the key ideas in technology, variety.

By incorporating ICT into their lessons, teachers have the power to appeal to most if not all of these different learning styles in the one activity. This is one element we have come to be familiar with over this course.

An example and a personal favorite of this ability is WebQuests. WebQuests are essentially whole lessons or activities online spanning across many different age groups and subject areas. They set out very clearly a goal and tasks for the students. They are often asked to step into a role or become another figure to undertake tasks and steps in the journey towards the goal.

As they are online they can be very interactive. Giving links to other websites, videos, podcasts, facts, history and precedents. The tasks are often structure in group work allowing for social interaction and as they are a newer development the tasks assigned are usually relevant to the students.

Along this course we have seen many attributes and disadvantages of the use of technology and ICT in lessons and classrooms. However I think that the variety and inclusiveness available though tools such as WebQuests are by far one of the best aspects.