Background
We have decided to focus on learning styles, mostly because we know how important it is to find the best learning method for each pupil. In your daily life, as a future teacher, you will observe how each pupil reacts towards different assignments, so therefore we see it as important skill to learn about the different learning styles.
Research question
What exact question are you writing about?
· Why is it important to learn about the different styles?
· How can you, as a teacher, recognize the different kind of learning needs with the pupils?
· How can you combine the learning styles in an English lesson, when you want to improve the pupils’ vocabulary?
· How are the styles different, when you talk about study environments?
Theory
The basic principle behind the theory of learning styles is that different people learn in different ways. It’s important to learn more about these different styles, so you know how to merge them with your teaching in the classroom. This theory is the result of a process which involves many different theories about how many learning styles there is and what to call them. The one that is most commonly used in teaching and also the one we have chosen is Dunn and Dunn´s VAK model
The kinaesthetic learners prefer to stand up and carry out an activity or being part of them.
The visual learners have a preference for seeing, e.g. visual aids such as diagrams, pictures, PowerPoint slides etc.
The auditory learners would benefit from listening to the lesson again on a tape and such, or discuss a written text within a working group.
Even though the styles are different from each other, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to combine them in a lesson, because most people are combined by several learning styles and some learning methods or assignments can manage to teach a wider area of learners.
Discussion
One of the problems with these different styles is that even though it is possible to combine them in the classroom, it still causes some difficulties, when you have 28 or more students, who you have to learn in at least three different ways.
Considering that this is a rather new theory, we can conclude that students have managed to gain knowledge without being taught according to their preferable learning style, and thereby wondering whether or not it is necessary to “divide and concur” when teaching.
Critics of this theory have tendency to view the assessment part as the weak link, arguing that it is not an exact science.
