http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=11767
Teachers’ Ability to Perceive Student Learning Preferences: “I’m sorry, but I don’t teach like that.”
The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers are able to perceive their students’ learning preferences more accurately than random guessing, and if percent accuracy differed by school district, grade level, or number of students rated. Results revealed the percentage of learning preferences teachers assessed correctly had a mean of 30.3% whereas random guessing would have been 25%. Rating accuracy did not differ significantly by school district, grade, or number of students. Based on the findings, we recommend schools utilize a learning preference assessment to provide teachers with accurate information about their students’ learning preferences prior to developing instructional lesson plans. Further, evaluation systems should assess the match between instructional methodology and individual student learning preferences if the goal is to meet the expectations of proficient learning for all students.
article continues at link
Re: "I'm sorry, but I don't teach like that."
Dad,
Thanks for the link. I read the article and wondered if teachers teach to different learning styles (differentiated instruction? - they are supposedly training in using a variety of methods when teaching) would it matter whether or not they knew their student’s optimum learning styles? In a perfect world, teachers would teach to all learning styles anyway.
I do think it’s a good idea to administer something like the Learning Styles Inventory early in the school year so that teacher’s can recognize the different styles and ensure that they teach to all styles.
Some kids will learn no matter how the material is presented but many students benefit from instruction geared to their style.
[/quote]
Dad,
As a person with LD/ADHD who has recently started working as a special ed paraprofessional, I sadly can say I am not surprised by that study. Thanks for posting the link.
I did want to clarify a common mistake that people make when it comes to the issue of LD and learning preferences. For many folks with LD, they can only learn in a certain way as it has nothing to do with a preference. Most people without LD have a particular learning preference but can learn the material in different ways.
Anyway, I hope stories like this will be rare in the future. I can’t say I am optimistic although I will do what I can to change that attitude even though I am at the low end of the totom pole.
PT