MythBusters
I would have to say that none of the three myths presented were a surprise to me. We spent a lot of time in my educational psychology class discussing these myths and therefore, I was already aware of the fact that they are not necessarily true.
In regards to the myth about auditory learning versus visual learning, I go back and forth between deciding whether or not to believe this myth. I do think that it is true that people learn better when they receive information in a certain way. However, some people take this to the extreme and claim that if they are a visual learner then they won't retain anything that is verbally said to them. I think that all people are capable of learning regardless of how information is presented to them, but perhaps we are more willing to learn if/when the information is presented in a way that is more interesting or appealing to us.
In regards to the myth about auditory learning versus visual learning, I go back and forth between deciding whether or not to believe this myth. I do think that it is true that people learn better when they receive information in a certain way. However, some people take this to the extreme and claim that if they are a visual learner then they won't retain anything that is verbally said to them. I think that all people are capable of learning regardless of how information is presented to them, but perhaps we are more willing to learn if/when the information is presented in a way that is more interesting or appealing to us.
In the future, I am sure that I will be challenged by my students and coworkers about this. When that happens I see myself asking them to think about a time that information was given to them in a style that did not match their learning preferences. Then I will ask them if they were able to learn any information from that or not? I think this could lead into a conversation about how learning styles are more of learning preferences rather than learning styles being the only way that a student or person is able to learn.
I see your point that someone might be able to learn better when information is presented in a format that they find more interesting. But as you said, everyone can learn different ways. I think of it as a very fluid thing since I could be able to learn something very well in a visual format but a different topic better in a verbal. It all depends and I agree that we shouldn't trap students into thinking that they can only learn a certain way.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good point in making sure that we don't let students think they can only learn in one way. I believe that it will be my job as an educator to help students see their potential and help them to realize that they are all capable of learning no matter how the information is presented.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statements that have been said, we shouldn't focus on teaching students in one particular way because of a test they took on the computer says that they are a "verbal" or "visual" learner. Students have labels thrust upon them and thus turn into self full-fulling prophecies of the students. If we as teachers don't allow our students to experience information in various ways I believe that we are doing a disservice to them as learners. Like Bethany said, our students won't necessarily be able to recognize their potential if we don't let them explore on their own.
ReplyDeleteWell put. Someone else noted that learning styles become a crutch or an excuse once a student has been anointed with such a label based on bad research.
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