Teaching the way learners learn!

Wendy ArnoldELTeCS workshop (2 hours)

3 March 2010

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Some wise words:

Confucius said:Tell me and I will ….FORGETShow me and I might …REMEMBERInvolve me and I willUNDERSTAND

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TELL ME ….

So the word ‘jump’ is a verb. You use it in a sentence to

show what you do..

jump?verb?

sentence?

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jump

SHOW ME …

So this is jump..It is a verb. It is

an action

Ahhhh OK! I jumping.

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INVOLVE ME …

This is jump. Now you do it. Say the word

‘jump’ and jump.

Ahhh like this …. jump

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Overview of session

• How do you learn?• How do you make meaning?• What’s one got to do with the other?• Do you know your learning style?• What’s that got to do with teaching?• What do you need from ‘others’ in order to

make meaning?• Putting it all together!

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KNOW YOURSELF!

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How do you learn?

THINK about (a similar type of experience eg. learning to do a sport or play a musical instrument)

a) a learning experience when you were a childb)a recent learning experience

Are there any:-similarities-differences

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How do you learn?

• SHARE with a partner

• SHARE with another pair

• Identify 3 things of note• Identify 1 thing that surprised you• Identify 1 ‘burning’ question you have – write

it down

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How do you make meaning?

THINK about how you ‘make meaning’ or understand something, a similar type of experience e.g. understand text, art, music)

a) a meaning making experience when you were a childb) a recent meaning making experience

Are there any:-similarities-differences

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How do you make meaning?

• SHARE with a partner

• SHARE with another pair

• Identify 3 things of note• Identify 1 thing that surprised you• Identify 1 ‘burning’ question you have – write

it down

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What’s one got to do with the other?

• Think about the differences and similarities between how you

A)Learnt to do somethingB)Make sense of something

Do you notice anything about these two experiences?

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What have learning and ‘making meaning’ got to do with each other?• SHARE with a partner

• SHARE with another pair

• Identify 3 things of note• Identify 1 thing that surprised you• Identify 1 ‘burning’ question you have – write

it down

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Do you know your learning style?

Consider what you have just discussed about

yourself and your learning and meaning making experiences

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Is this you?• I write down things I want to learn - that’s how I remember them

best. • I sit at the front of the classroom so I can see my teacher’s body

language and facial expressions. • I use diagrams, illustrated textbooks, videos, handouts and visual

displays to aid my learning. • I write detailed notes so I can absorb the information my teacher

gives - sometimes I make sure I’m given extra time to do this. • When I’m working at home, I study in a quiet place on my own. • I use bright highlighter pens or markers to draw attention to

important areas in my notes or work.

• www.bbc.co.uk/.../gogetit/getsussed/visual.shtml

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Do these help?

‘ … a picture is worth a thousand words …’

Profits going down

Roses in full bloomA cute puppy

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Is this you?• I read written information aloud or ask the teacher to do

this. This helps me remember and understand it. • I discuss topics with my friends both in and out of class.• I like to talk things through and listen to what others have

to say. • I ask my teachers to use group and discussion work in class. • I listen closely to my teachers when they are speaking. • Sometimes I tape lessons so I can listen to them to help me

revise.

• www.bbc.co.uk/.../getsussed/auditory.shtml

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Do you do this?And here is how we’re going to win

I can see 6 legs

You need to add flour!

Add an egg

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Is this you?• I take a hands-on approach to learning. I ask to see practical

demonstrations of ideas. • I make sure my teachers show me how things work. • I volunteer to do demonstrations in class. This helps me to

understand and remember an activity or idea. • When studying at home, I don’t sit at a desk. I like to learn

in a relaxed position, lying on my back or stomach. • I play music quietly in the background and take frequent

study-breaks so I don’t get tired. • I remember lessons best if I walk around my room and say

important words aloud.

• www.bbc.co.uk/.../gogetit/getsussed/visual.shtml

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Simon says ‘jump’

Now ‘jump over’ Slam

dunk!

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OR DO YOU DO ALL THREE?

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Are you teaching in the way that you learn or ‘make meaning’?

Do you consider the needs of other learning styles?Are you sure?

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What’s knowing your learning style got to do with teaching?

What do you think other learning styles need?

THINK – what other learning styles are there? Can you identify them? What do you think their needs are?

PAIR – share with a partner

SHARE – two pairs share ideas

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Do your ideas include any of

these? 24

VISUAL LEARNERS NEED

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AUDITORY LEARNERS NEEDattend classes attend discussions and tutorials discuss topics with others discuss topics with your teachers explain new ideas to other people use a tape recorder remember the interesting examples, stories,

jokes... describe the overheads, pictures and other

visuals to somebody who was not there leave spaces in your notes for later recall and

'filling'

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KINESTHETIC LEARNERS NEED

all your senses - sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing ... laboratories field trips field tours examples of principles lecturers who give real-life examples applications hands-on approaches (computing) trial and error collections of rock types, plants, shells, grasses... exhibits, samples, photographs... recipes - solutions to problems, previous exam papers

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What’s knowing your learning style got to do with teaching?

THINKWhat materials do you use to teach with? What

components?PAIR – share with your partner- Similarities- Differences SHARE – two pairs share together

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Did they include any of these?

A coursebook Flashcards CD/tape Any other?

Which learning styles do you think your coursebook helps?

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Identifying activities for different learning styles

GROUPWORKLook at the coursebook carefully. Identify an

activity for a)Visual learnerb)Auditory learnerc) Kinesthetic learnersDiscuss WHY you think these activities match

these learning styles

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Activities and learning styles

GROUPWORKShare what you have identified with another group

Identify 1 characterisitic of each activity which makes them suitable for

a) Visual learnersb)Auditory learnersc) Kinesthetic learners

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Activities and learning styles

GROUPWORKIdentify activities which are NOT suitable for

a)Visual learnersb)Auditory learnersc) Kinesthetic learners

Consider how to make them suitable!

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Modifying materials

GROUPWORKShare what you have done with another group

Identify 1 modification that can be done to an activity in order to make it suitable for

a)Visual learnersb)Auditory learnersc) Kinesthetic learners

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What do you need from ‘others’ in order to make meaning?

THINKConsider the role of your classmates for this

workshop. What was their role in helping you to ‘make meaning’ (understand) how to do the tasks?

PAIR - share with a partnerSHARE – two pairs share

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Put it all together!

GROUPWORK

You are going to be given a learning objective. Design an activity to meet the needs of all three learning styles. You are going to teach this activity to another group.

Time for planning: 10 minutes!!!!

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ReflectionTHINK3 things you have learnt today1)2)3)2 things that surprised you1)2)1 ‘burning’ question still unansweredShare it with a partner. Can they help you answer it?

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MANY THANKS

You have been a wonderful group.

Many thanks for working so well together.

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