Welcome

Welcome to Little Lucy's Lecture.

"Too bad about learning styles, if a student doesn't learn what is being taught, it is their own fault." 

This is a strong statement and certainly on one side of the fence when it comes to evaluating the student's learning.  I would like to discuss and debate both sides with my blog.

If the student doesn't learn....It's the student's fault.....

I believe it would be safe to argue that this statement appears to be coming from an educator point of view.  The teacher has prepared and presented the lesson and the rest is up to the student....period. In a class of 20+ students it is impossible for anyone to expect the teacher to prepare and present 20+ individual lesson plans. Students should know what they need and know how to adapt the teacher's presentation.  Really? A kindergartner is going to know that the reason he can't sit in his seat long enough to work on his reading is because he is a kinesthetic learner.  An elementary student is going to know that she needs to take notes in class while the teacher is lecturing because she is a visual learner.  And a middle school student is going to feel comfortable reading to herself because she knows she is an audible learner.  There may be a few students who can adapt their learning preferences but many will and do need the assistance of an adult to understand their learning style.  It takes time to adapt the learning process and apply for further understanding.

If the student doesn't learn....It's the teacher's fault....

Whoa....did I just write this? Yes.  I put it out there.  So how can this be the teacher's fault?  We just discussed how it would be impossible for a teacher to create 20+ individual lesson plans and present in a 55 minute class period.  Teachers are unique people and to blame the teacher for a student's non-learning is perceived as a personal attack.  Realistically we cannot expect a teacher to meet the needs of every student in on class each way they need to be taught....or can we?  Is it possible for a teacher to create one lesson plan for presentation and one lesson plan for application?  Is it possible that through the application phase of the class time that student's learning styles will be offered, chosen, and further the learning process for each student?  I dare to say yes!

One lesson plan for presentation.....One lesson plan for application.....

I believe it is possible for the teacher to present the lesson to all students at one time to meet the needs of all learners.  How?

           1)  PowerPoints:  visual and audible (visual and audible learners)
           2)  Small activities peppered in the presentation (kinesthetic learners)
           3)  Handouts:  for note takers (visual and kinesthetic learners)

Then for the application phase the students will be offered multiple ways to complete the lesson by the teacher preparing a lesson plan that incorporates different learning styles with the same result:  completion of the homework assignment.  How?  Students are given the following options to complete their assignment: 

           1)  Microphone and tape recorder to dictate and store their answers (audible learners)
           2)  Large paper to draw a picture or construction paper, glue, magazine photos to create and use images to answer their homework assignments (kinesthetic and visual learners)
           3)  Computers to type and/or use narrative PowerPoints (audible, kinesthetic, visual learners)

These are just a few samples that allow students to find their way with applying the teacher's instruction and will enhance the student's learning process.

I dare to say that educators and students can work together to promote learning by presenting and applying multiple learning style options throughout the lesson, even in a 55 minute class.