It is well known that people have different learning styles that work best for them. Many of us who use trial and error were able to find out the way they learn best. For example, when preparing to exams or trying to remember some material, I always write it down, pronounce it aloud and draw some schemes or charts. That is very helpful for me. But I have never been assessed for the learning styles up until now. The tests from the module “Learning Styles” help me understand why I use the above mentioned strategies for the process of memorization: I have multimodal style of learning (V.A.R.K. model) (http://www.vark-learn.com/english/index.asp). I cannot guarantee that it would be helpful if I knew these strategies during my school years or in university. It would be helpful if the teachers were aware of mine and other students’ learning preferences and organize their lessons accordingly, so their teachings would not be so monotonous and boring.I also like the Gregorc Style Delineator (http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/ learning/gregorc.htm). It helps understand students’ approach to learning. Knowing students’ “perceptual qualities” and “ordering abilities” teachers can build their lessons and choose activities for groups and individual students to make sure various students’ learning styles are addressed.
In the readings for this module it could be noticed some criticism of this or that method and scepticism towards the necessity of assessing for learning styles. One of the opinions is that students are subjective when answering tests questions about them, therefore the results of such tests are not reliable and valid. Another cons view claims that the tests questions “ignore the socio-economic, cultural and even geographic context of the learner”. Some opponents of assessing for learning skills declare that we already know that people learn differently and teachers should use a variety of teaching methods and techniques to address this diversity, so there is no need to spend a lot of money on such research (https://crm.lsnlearning.org.uk/user/order.aspx?code=041540).
All the mentioned above opinions may have a place and at some point they are true. However, in my opinion, knowing our preferable ways of learning gives us an understanding what we should start our learning from. For example, those who have a visual style may find some diagrams or pictures, students with write/read preferences may begin with written instructions and etc. Also, understanding our learning styles may help us find the learning strategies which would work best in different situations.
The role of the teachers is to be aware of variety of students’ learning styles and to address them with their teaching plans.
