Each year teachers are faced with the daunting task of teaching
to a classroom of 20-30 personel students, each with their own
learning styles, interests, and abilities. Providing optimal
learning for such a diverse group can seem overwhelming. But,
there is a easy arrival that can be used which will enable
all students to succeed, and that arrival is simply using
variety and choice. Not only does this arrival address the
multiple studying styles of students, but it also aides in making
them independent learners.
While the classroom still needs to have buildings (routines,
rules, procedures), providing variety within that structured
environment can aide in providing optimal studying for all
students. Using a variety of instructional approaches such as
lectures, PowerPoint presentations, inquiry-based instruction,
hands-on experiments, project/problem-based learning, or
computer aided instruction, not only addresses the discrete
learning styles of the students in the classroom, but it can help
learners become more flexible in their learning. Most learners
do have a preferred studying style, any way this does not mean
they are strictly dependent on that style to learn. They are
also comfortable with and able to learn from some other styles
as well. Exposing students to a wide variety of studying styles
will enable them to become more flexible learners.
It is also beneficial to vary the input devices used and the
resources made ready in the classroom. Children have a wide
variety of preferred studying devices, therefore development as many
available as possible provides for this diversity. For example,
when presenting facts use audio (songs, speeches,
interviews, etc.), video, books, posters, hands-on
manipulatives, food, and smells. Technology has made available
a wide range of resources, such as PowerPoint presentations,
live video feeds, chats, and communication. PowerPoint
presentations are a great way to gift facts using a
mixture of audio, video, animations (movement), and text. These
presentations can also be made ready to the students via the
computer for them to quote at their own pace. The internet/
computers also offer interactive studying activities that combine
movement, visuals, and sounds, such as virtual science
experiments. These allow students to conduct experiments
never before belief possible due to danger or lack of equipment.
Virtual experiments can be found at http://www.explorelearning.com .
Pre-exposure to material also aides in learning. The more
familiar students are with a subject the easier it is for new
learning to occur. Therefore, providing students with a
variety of pre-exposure materials can better get ready them for
new studying units. For example, monthly calendars that list
the upcoming themes, a classroom website with links to discrete
websites related to upcoming themes, books, magazines, maps,
posters, computer software, and manipulatives can be provided
for students to browse at their leisure. Providing a variety of
materials takes into consideration the studying preferences of
all students.
Novelty can be used to gain and keep students' attention.
People usually only pay concentration to things that are of value or
things that are personally meaningful. Therefore, relating
learning to your students' real life experiences or interests
can catch and keep their attention. "Shock" them with an unusual
noise, experiment, video, song, etc. You can also gift them
with a problem or scheme that relates to their real world in
order to gain their concentration and interest at the beginning of
a unit. Issues such as environmental problems, problems with
long lines in the cafeteria, designing the exquisite playground,
planning a field trip within the budget, local traffic issues,
etc. Can all be considered. development studying meaningful,
relevant, and animated to your students not only gains their
initial attention, but keeps it throughout the lesson.
When planning your lessons it is beneficial to try to comprise as
many of the senses and/or Gardner's multiple intelligences
(verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, kinesthetic, visual-
spatial, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist)
as possible. You can do this by using a variety of activities
in your plans such as songs, games, experiments, field trips,
real world experiences, interviews, guest speakers, physical
movement/exercise, small group activities, personel activities,
partner activities, cooking/food/snacks, hands-on experiences,
etc. Providing a variety of activities will enable students of
all quality levels to succeed.
Not only do students have diverse studying styles but varying
bio-cognitive cycles as well. Some students learn best in the
morning, some in the afternoon. Therefore, having a flexible
classroom agenda can supply for these differences. Also,
varying the times and types of assessments can give all students
a fair opening of showing their true abilities.
When applicable, it is beneficial to give students choice in
activities and assessments. This provides students
opportunities to showcase their personel talents and can aide
in classroom supervision as well. If students are constantly
dictated to and not given a voice or choice they can grow
resentful and "act out". supply a variety of classroom
activities for students to pick from during structured and
unstructured times, give them some projects such as posters,
PowerPoint presentations, reports, interviews, videos, brochures,
etc. To pick from when assessing their knowledge. Giving
students choice provides them with a sense of empowerment over
their studying and can aide them in deciding what studying styles
and assessments work best for them, thus helping them become
more responsible for their own learning.
It would be a pretty boring world if all learners were the same.
Diversity makes the classroom more animated and exciting.
Teachers should honor and respect the uniqueness of each
student by gift variety and choice in their classrooms. Not
only will this address the diverse needs of the students, but it
will also help them to become independent learners as well.
After all, is that not the goal of education?
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