Week 9: Learning Styles - Technology Connections

Ninth week!

Reflecting about week 9 brings about a series of feelings. We are about to end what it originally was an interesting learning experience. After nine weeks, Building Teacher Skills through the Interactive Web has become an essential issue, a part of my routine, a contact with another world. Today, I feel that I miss it before it ends. 

This week's discussion dealt with learning styles and how they may be enhanced through using technology in the language classroom. Several reading materials were suggested to be discussed and reflect about the use of technology to enhance learning styles.

Howard Gardner, who carried out psychology researches on intelligence acquisition, first mentioned the term “Multiple Intelligences” in 1983 in his book "Frame of Mind" as pointed out in the article "Technology and Multiple Intelligences" and “How Technology Enhances Howard Gardner's Eight Intelligences”. The following video shows Gardner talking about multiple intelligences: 

Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences

Gardner distinguishes 9 types of intelligences nowadays:

1. Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence (individuals learn easily through speaking, listening, reading or writing)

2.    Logical-Mathematical Intelligence (individuals may learn through reasoning, problem solving and numbers)

3.  Kinesthetic Intelligence (individuals learn by making physical exercises, movements)

4.    Visual-Spatial Intelligence (individuals tend to learn by visually delimiting the space)

5. Musical Intelligence (individuals learn by hearing or producing sounds)

6. Interpersonal Intelligence (individuals seem to learn by discussing, working in groups or cooperatively)

7. Intrapersonal Intelligence (individuals learn working in isolation or by reflecting on their emotions and feelings)

8. Naturalist Intelligence (individuals are likely to learn through their contact with nature)

9. Existentialist Intelligence (individuals learn through their philosophical reflections about the human beings’ existence)

These different types of intelligences are defined in the following video: 

Multiple Intelligences

Through the article "Technology and Multiple Intelligences", citing Gardner's words, I learned that by identifying learners' strengths and weaknesses, teachers could re-design their classes by integrating multiple intelligences in order to cover different learning styles in the same class. This fact could help teachers facilitate their students' learning process. We can suggest our students to identify their learning style by taking the following survey http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz Through the article "Technology and Multiple Intelligences", I learned that by identifying learners' strengths and weaknesses, teachers could re-design their classes by integrating multiple intelligences in order to cover different learning styles in the same class. This fact could help teachers facilitate their students' learning process. We can suggest our students to identify their learning style by taking the following survey What´s your learning style? After determining our students' learning style, we can incorporate exercises that foster different learning styles. Such exercises should vary class by class, lesson by lesson. It may help learners improve their performance in the language classroom.

Finally, the main assignment that we had this week was the final project report, which  was submitted on Friday 30th. This report was the accomplishment of many weeks of intense work. It is divided into 5 parts: background, issue or problem that started your project, initial solution and expected response, response and reflection, changes made or planned, conclusion and resources.This final report was polished with the feedback given by our partners on week 8. In my case, I thank Raj and Ina again for their invaluable cooperation that allow me to improve my final version.

In conclusion, discussion on learning styles and final report project gave shape to this ninth week full of sad feelings and, at the same time, a sense of joy because of the almost accomplished goal. 

Warm regards, dear peers and Courtney!

Mary