According to World Wide Learn students learn in different ways. And no one has a better learning style than anyone else. Some experts say there are as many as seven different learning styles; but it's easier to narrow it down to three types of learning . . . we'll call them:
1. Listening learners
2. Seeing learners
3. Touch / experience learners
It's simple really. Think about one of life's earliest lessons - often taught by our mothers: The Stove Can Burn You.
1. Listening learners heard their mother, believed the information, and never touched a stove.
2. Seeing learners watched their brothers touch the stove, and never touched it.
3. Experience learners touched the stove; but only once!
The question that you might ask is, what is your point? My point is that there is no set method to use in a unit. Teachers need to know their audience. They need to get into the minds of the students immediately, the 1st day. Read what the prior teacher has to say about the student and observe for your self.
These three discussion methods do play off each other. At any point during the unit you can bring either of these into play. We don’t want to leave anyone out of the learning process , so as teachers, we should be will to try all that might work.. One goal for teachers is to reach all students where they are.
The word reflective is an adjective, meaning to reflect- to meditate, to bring back, to think over, to wonder or to ponder (Retrieved December 16, 2009 from http://dictionary.sensagent.com/reflect/en-en/). This method of discussion is when individual students use their own knowledge, experiences, and values to decide on the question (Gabler & Schroeder, p. 23).
Exploratory provides insight into and comprehension of an issue or situation by definition . This method takes place because no definitive conclusion has been made or is clearly defined. The exploratory discussion method allows students to brainstorm forming a list of pros and cons, implications, alternatives, and emergent questions (Gabler & Schroeder (2003, p. 22).
The word directed is to have or take charge of, to control and cause forward movement, to give guidance and instruction or to supervise. The directed method of discussion is one where the teacher already knows what the conclusion is or should be. This is where the teacher poses questions for the student to answer (Gabler & Schroeder year 2003., P. 23).
The Free Dictionary (2009). Retrieved December 16, 2009 from
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/directed
Gabler, I., & Schroeder, M., (2003). Constructivist Methods: For the secondary
classroom. Pearson Education, Inc.: Boston.
Memodata Corporation: Online Encyclopedia, Thesaurus, Dictionary definitions and more (2009). Retrieved December 16, 2009 from
http://dictionary.sensagent.com/reflect/en-en/ .
WorldWideLearn (2009). The world’s premier online directory of education. Retrieved December 16, 2009 from
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-articles/how-do-you-learn.htm .
