SeaMonkey,
If you do a little research into teaching you'll find that good teachers should use a variety of methods to teach each concept. At university level professors are often experts in their fields but have little training in teaching methods. In my favorite learning style model there are 9 Intelligences (thinking styles, areas of ability) that are recognized. Most people are competent in more than one and some may have unusual abilities in one or more style. The most common style is Visual. Any teacher who seeks excellence as a teacher, not just an expert in their field, should be adept at using visual teaching methods. Many university professors simply don't have enough background in Cognitive Development or Teaching Theory to know this and are far less effective than they could be in the classroom.
Great teachers are aware of their students learning styles and are able to employ many methods to teach all concepts even if it isn't one of their personal learning styles. They routinely teach the same lesson in multiple styles and when a student comes to them confused about a lesson are able to identify that students strengths as a learner and adapt their lessons to the students abilities and will then incorporate that teaching style into their lessons while that student is present (and possibly always if it's a common style).
Great students are aware of their strengths and know that their teacher can not always teach in their learning style effectively. They learn to find reasources to learn the material in their own style when the teacher fails to do so in the lesson. For instance a kinetic (Kinestetic) learning style isn't easily adapted to many college classrooms, unless maybe if it's a lab. When studying a kinetic learner will create their own manipulative objects that help them understand the lesson or perform physical tasks that help them study. In Astronomy I would close my eyes and point to imaginary objects in the sky to memorize their location or make shapes with my arms to remember the relative sizes and qualities of objects we were studying. Great students know their teachers can't be everything to everybody and help fill the gap to make the most of their educational opportunities.
Universities are required to make accomodations for disabilities. If you are unable to write effectively you can bring a word processer to take notes with even if they aren't allowed at your school, or if you have a cognitive processing speed issue you can get extra time for exams. Wheelchair ramps and adaptable classrooms are also required.
A requirement for teachers to use visual teaching methods would benefit most of the student population at any given school because most people don't learn their best from pure verbal methods, or any single method. Since visual learning is the most common it would be the best choice for a single teaching style, but would leave people like me who aren't good at visual learning out in the cold (which I know isn't your intention). Perhaps what's needed is required teachers training that includes information about learning styles and how to teach to them. I think it's also something worth bringing up with individual teachers, in a respectful way. If you aren't doing well in a class and explain that you are a visual thinker/learner and really need visual aids to grasp the concepts they should accomodate. If they don't I think you should have grounds for pursueing the establishement of a policy.
29 May 2010, 2:32 pm
