FROM
LEARNING STYLES TO TEACHING STYLES
This questionnaire
will help you to think about your teaching style in the areas of sensory
modalities, global vs analytic orientation, degree of structure and individual
vs group orientation.
DIRECTIONS: Put a tick
(\/) in the columns which correspond to your answers.
SENSORY
MODALITIES VISUAL VERBAL I use written texts
and documents. I give written
instructions. I allow students
time to take notes or summarise information in writing. I ask students to
make or complete cards, tables, etc. VISUAL NON VERBAL I use visual aids
(e.g. blackboard, illustrations, charts, graphs, concept maps, outlines,
graphic organisers). I use video
recordings. I give concrete
examples to help students visualize new concepts. I ask students to
make posters, cartoons, etc. AUDITORY I use oral
explanations and ask students to repeat or paraphrase. I use audio
recordings. I give oral
instructions. I help students
explore and develop information through class discussions. KINESTHETIC I emphasise and
clarify ideas through gesture, facial expression and dramatisation. I engage students in
active learning and direct experience and experimentation. I use tasks which
imply physical movement. I use project work. GLOBAL VS
ANALYTIC ORIENTATION GLOBAL I activate
students’ background knowledge and build in context before presenting
new concepts. I set the context
for a new topic with "open", rather general questions. I ask students to
focus on similarities and analogies. I try to make
students recall personal experiences and stimulate their reactions. I encourage students
to transfer their knowledge and skills across disciplines. ANALYTIC I approach a topic
in a careful, graded, "step by step" manner. I ask students to
make an in-depth study of an item which reflects a more general problem. I ask students to
focus on contrasts and differences. I encourage students
to consider facts and give objective judgements. I ask students to
examine logical cause/effects relationships. REFLECTIVE VS
IMPULSIVE - DEGREE OF STRUCTURE REFLECTIVE I propose a
structured project or study plan. I make explicit the
goal of each step of an activity. I use textbooks in a
systematic way, following them as closely as possible. I test students
regularly on small portions of subject matter. I delay students’
response so that they can elaborate the new information in personal ways. I ask students to
collect all necessary information before starting work on a task. I ask students to
work for a considerable period of time on the same objective and with the
same materials or method. IMPULSIVE I propose a global
project or study plan and let students free to organise the steps or
details. I let students
discover and discuss the goals of an activity after they have finished it. I let students use a
variety of resources in addition to textbooks. I use tests which
focus on global results. I ask students to do
an exercise just after an explanation in order to help them structure the
basic elements of the information. I get students to
start working right away and look for any necessary information while they
are doing the task. I get students to
work in short sessions with a variety of methods, materials or objectives. INDIVIDUAL VS
GROUP ORIENTATION INDIVIDUAL I provide
individualised assistance when appropriate. I allow students
time for personal reflection and elaboration. I let students use
individual worksheets, handouts, etc. GROUP I use pair- and
small group-work. I involve students
in class discussions to elicit different viewpoints. I encourage students
to negotiate and cooperate with me and their classmates. |
Always
or nearly always |
Often |
Some
times |
Rarely
or never |
FOLLOW UP
If possible, discuss the
following questions with a colleague.
a. How far do you think
this questionnaire reflects your actual teaching style?
b. Do you think you need
to adjust
* the tasks you set
and/or how you manage them in the classroom?
* the interaction
you promote with your students?
If you do, can you think
of a few practical examples?
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