How to Identify a Student’s Learning Style with Jonathan Osler
Introduction
In today’s society, college students are faced with options when it comes to their educational experience. Some students like to study in groups, some learn by completing projects, and others enjoy the hands-on approach. A teacher needs to know their student’s learning style to help them succeed.
According to educator Jonathan Osler, there are several ways for a teacher or professor to identify different styles that best fit his students.
Jonathan Osler is a California-based educator and learning expert who has helped students overcome obstacles through his educational consulting firm.
For moreover 20 years, he has been working in advance of educational equity.
His services include consulting, workshops and research.
As a teacher, Jonathan has worked with students with learning disabilities. He subsequently has developed ways to teach physically challenged people without limiting their potential growth.
His method is Original Thinking, which aims to measure students’ awareness, intelligence, and maturity.
Below is a list of methods Osler recommends to every teacher to quickly identify a student’s learning style.
1. Teaching Students with Different Learning Styles
It is effective for a teacher or professor to teach students using different learning styles simultaneously. This way, students will have different approaches to the material.
What are Learning Styles?
Learning styles are how we prefer to take in new information. It can focus on how we interact and communicate with others. They also have an impact on how we understand information.
Learning Styles
There are three main types of learning styles:
- visual learners.
- auditory learners
- kinesthetic learners
Here are examples of each style according to the Jonathan Osler:
Visual learners learn best by seeing
They usually use visuals to focus on charts, graphs, pictures, and diagrams in class. These students need a lot of explanation to understand concepts, and they tend to be busy while studying.
Auditory learners learn best by hearing
They understand concepts through the ears and words used. They tend to retain the material better than visual learners because they are more active in their learning process. They need a lot of repetition to retain information.
Kinesthetic learners learn best through movement, touch, and physical activities
They focus on their hands and how the body moves. They are usually more aware and responsive than their counterparts, so they need more time to process information.
2. Adopting Creative Teaching Techniques
Osler suggests that students learn at their own pace, and the most effective way to identify their learning style is by providing them with creative ways to approach the material. It can be done through different teaching styles, like lectures or hands-on activities. A professor could then follow up by incorporating practices or research projects. It allows a teacher to understand what learning technique best fits his students.
3. Proper Time Management
If a teacher manages his time well, he will know how much time each student needs. He can then allocate his time accordingly in the best way possible. He can also develop a pacing chart or a method of recording his students’ progress. It will ensure he has enough time to identify what works for each student and what doesn’t
4. Provide Appropriate Multicultural Education
Multicultural education provides diversity in ways a student can learn. Some students are never comfortable with the stipulated method of learning. By introducing multicultural education, teachers can know what works for them instead.
5. Tap Students’ Creativity
Students of any age should be encouraged to compete in creative courses like art, music, or writing. It can take them away from the thinking process and allow them to focus on their interests. It will also encourage them to think in unconventional ways, which will help the teacher identify each student’s zone of genius.
7. Make Use of Technology
Teachers and professors should use technology. Most students are more comfortable with technology than without it. It provides the students with a chance to compete and learn.
8. Teach Empathy
To quickly identify their learning styles, teachers should make students feel comfortable to discuss their emotions concerning different teaching styles openly. It can help the teacher see how their students are taking in information.
Conclusion
This article has provided ways for educators to recognize students’ learning styles. A teacher or professor needs to understand his students and their teaching style. This way, he will standardize how he interacts with his students, allowing him to have a practical class. A teacher can also provide students with different ways to approach their studies. By having these options, a student would be more likely to find the one that fits him best.