Learning Styles and Learning Struggles

Text Box: Learning Styles and Learning Struggles

Text Box: When we examine the ever-growing gap between Teaching and Learning, there are two presumptions which seem to be at heart of struggles many of our children are experiencing. The first presumption is that all children learn the same or they should learn the same. While this would, if true, make things considerably easier on teachers, our failing education system seems to be providing clear evidence that, despite good intentions and best efforts, we cannot and should not force all children to learn the same. The second presumption is that the solution for all learning problems can be solved by altering our current teaching methods. This approach has also proven to be ineffective despite good intentions and best efforts. Even attempts to map out various ‘learning styles” and have teachers teach specifically to those styles has, for the most part, proven ineffective.
If we briefly examine the diagram to the right, we can easily see that there are numerous factors (ingredients) that make up each strategy (recipe) for processing information, i.e., learning. Given the number of strategies or skills required for successful learning (12-24 Essential Learning Skills), it is easy to see why no solution has been forthcoming given the current institutional approach.

Text Box: Left Hemisphere (Auditory Learning Style) Interested in the component parts Detects features Sequential Processing Verbal thought process Experiences the world auditorally
(average 3-4 words/sec) Information stored as perceived Experiences time as a flow of discrete (separate) moments Analytical Responsive Self-control Parasympathetic Dominant Relaxed with selective Focus

Text Box: Right Hemisphere (Visual Learning Style) Interested in the whole (big picture) Detects patterns Holistic processing Visual thought process Experiences the world visually
(average 32 Images/sec) Information processed in real-time Experiences the past, present and future as happening all at once Intuitive Reactive Impulsive Sympathetic N.S. Dominant Hyper-alert or Filters sensory input

Text Box: We do know that not all children fit into the same educational mold. Could it be that the answer for many of these children is NOT going to be found in the context of the institution? Could it be that the 20th Century assembly line model for education has reached it limits and it is simply not capable of delivering an adequate solution to the issues facing many of these children in the 21st Century? Could it be that the specific learning struggles being faced by these children require specific learning-based solutions?