Examination of Learning Styles and Teaching Styles

HMLT5203 Assignment

Mohammad Rinaldi

Introduction

• Different student learn in different style, and by matching the students’ preferred learning style with the teacher’s teaching style it is expected that the students’ learning will be improved.

• This assignment is to analyze the situation to see whether the learning styles and teaching style match and how much adjustment needed or needs to be made.

Methodology

• The learning styles were identify using Don Clark’s Learning Style Survey

(http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles.html)

• There are 13 willing students participants, but only 12 completed the survey.

• The teaching style was identify using The Grasha Riechmann Teaching Style Survey

(http://longleaf.net/teachingstyle.html)

• The survey was completed by the teacher himself

Students’ Learning Style

41%

42%

17%

Learning Style

Philosophy

Organizing

Analyzing

Students’ Learning Style

• Based on the learning style survey, it is shown there are 2 large group of students’ learning styles, consisted of: Philosophy and Organizing

• And one small group of students with Analyzing learning style.

Preferred Learning Modes

Philosophy:

• Prefers to pull a number of different observations and thoughts into an integrated whole in a step-by-step manner (go from details to big-picture).

• Prefers to reason logically and design models, theories, and projects.

• Likes lectures, analogies, systems, and case studies.

• Talking with experts is normally not helpful.

Preferred Learning Modes

Organizing:• Good at adapting to changing circumstances and

solves problems in an intuitive, trial-and-error manner, such as discovery learning.

• Tends to be at ease with people. • Prefers the challenges of new

experiences, involvement with others, assimilation, and role-playing.

• Likes anything new, problem solving, and small group discussions.

Teacher’s Teaching Style

4

3.1253.375

4.1253.875

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Teaching Style

Expert Formal Authority Personal Model Facilitator Delegator

Teacher’s Teaching Style

Based on the teaching style survey, it is shown that teacher’s teaching mode is:

• Expert

• Facilitator

• Delegator

Preferred Teaching Mode

Expert:

• Teacher holds the expertise and knowledge students need

Facilitator:

• Emphasizes personal nature of teacher/student interactions

• Consults with students

Delegator:

• Emphasis on student autonomy and independence

• Teacher available on request

Analysis

Expert Facilitator Delegator

Philosophy ✔

Organizing ✔ ✔ ✔

Conclusion

• Based on the analysis, the teacher’s teaching style only catered one large group of students. This group is expected to have advantages in learning the course.

• To adjust with this situation, the teacher is expected to find other strategies in order to cater the needs of other groups.

Recommendation

• The teacher will have to shift from Delegator to Personal Model teaching style to cater the need of other groups.

• The desired teaching style to cater most of the students’ learning style is: Cluster 3 -facilitator/personal model/expert cluster

• Where the teaching mode is: a student-centered model for the classroom. Teachers design activities, social interactions, or problem-solving situations that allow students to practice the processes for applying course content."

References

• The Grasha Riechmann Teaching Style Survey

(http://longleaf.net/teachingstyle.html)

• Teaching Styles: A key for promoting active learning

(http://www.jfkcpa.com/Teaching%20Styles.pdf)

• Don Clark's Learning Styles

(http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles.html)