Personality Communications

… than seeing a student you have taught… do well, particularly when at the beginning of the semester, this student seemed so surly!

I can swear to you, that it is more satisfying that your favorite dessert when a student decides to pull their weight and do well in your class. I could squeeze him so tight that his eyeballs protruded out of his head… although probably not a good idea these days AND he is taller than me! However, when the energy is right and you hit the right chord in class… and your surly student actually sees a point in what your subject is about… and decides to become motivated… it is like a win on lotto!

It makes all the hours of study to get your qualifications worth while. There is only one thing better than seeing them do well and that is for them to thank you for it as well!

Oh man, just excuse me while I float out of here on a big fat marshmallow cloud!!!

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

We are currently looking at different ways that we can incorporate more information technology or blended learning into the curriculum at the university where I lecture.

I actually think it is a wonderful idea. Everybody is so busy these days, that to have an online discussion forum or other online readings, the ability to renew your library books online, etc. is a marvelous way to be able to manage time, whilst at the same time, add diversity and depth to a course.

Blended learning is of particular relevance to those individuals who choose to study via distance education. I have been one of those students. I remember when I came back to study at masters level, I had to suddenly get up to date with pod casts instead of lectures and digital readings to download and print… and there I was patiently waiting for my ‘reading brick’ to arrive!

The diversity that a discussion forum gives to a course is priceless. We only have 3 hours a fortnight contact time in one of the courses I am doing, but we will shortly open some relevant threads in a discussion forum, which is set up for our course and I cannot wait!

I have always found the discussion forums I use to be rich with interesting points of view. It is rather like face to face communication, but without much of the non-verbal information. This can sometimes lead to a slight misunderstanding here and there, but in the main, the benefits far outweigh the odd challenge!

So I am in favor of blended learning. It brings a class together at a time that is convenient for each individual and adds a complexity to the understanding of course materials.

I had my class today at university for the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education and we touched on learning styles.

It is interesting how university education is now starting to embrace this concept. Years ago when I first learned about visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles, along with others, it was still considered a little ‘out there’. Now it is just starting to be incorporated into the curriculum.

There was a short discussion about how one could possible cover all learning styles with delivery in the average class situation and somebody even suggested that we make everybody learn a certain way! Isn’t that what is already happening in some respects?

I am left handed. I was very fortunate, as I went to a charming primary school that allowed me to write with my left hand, which is what comes naturally to me. However shortly before my time in first grade, some schools made left handed people write with their right hand, which to me seems rather barbaric! I have even heard of some people having their left hand tied behind their back! How can this be in any way effective to their learning?

Children and adults will take what they learn, in their own, way from the education system. It is up to us, as educators, to make it as appealing to as many learning styles as possible. Of course we cannot provide the perfect environment for all types of learners, all of the time, but we can, at least try to embrace all learning styles.

It is most important not to make anybody wrong because they favor a particular learning style. I hate to think what sort of anxiety or frustration having my left hand tied behind my back might have caused me!

I think it is important that we teach people in a way that is meaningful to them, whatever that is. The key here is flexibility. There will always be a variety of learning styles in any classroom situation; our challenge today is simply not to alienate any of them.