Friday, November 28, 2008

Learning Styles and Thanksgiving

Your Learning Style is unique. It’s unlike anybody else’s. One in a billion. No, actually, let me be more exact: your Learning Style is 1 in 3552713678800500929355621337890625.

If that’s not reason enough to be thankful for your Learning Style this season, let’s be thankful for:
- Our ability to learn new things.
- Our ability to remember the things we’ve learned.
- Our ability to communicate our knowledge to others.
- Our ability to deal with stress according to our Learning Style.

Don’t you know what your Learning Style is? Find out today and be thankful!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Learning Styles and a Gifted Teenager

Being a gifted learner is often a challenge, particularly when the education system doesn't match their abilities.

Because schoolwork comes so easily to them, sitting in class and doing repetitive homework may be boring. Depending on his or her Learning Style, as well as on the teacher’s attitude, a gifted teenager will most likely choose a way to pass the time by:
- moving about, even when not allowed to
- reading their own book (usually advanced for their age) during class
- playing the fool
- being insubordinate
- daydreaming.

Alternatively, they may fake or even develop headaches or stomach aches (psychosomatic illnesses) in order to avoid school altogether.

Furthermore, some children and teenagers may hide their true talents in an attempt to fit in with their peers (if their Learning Style shows a preference for pairs, peers and/or team learning). They may underachieve on purpose, or fail to reach their academic potential because they are not motivated at school (if their Learning Style shows the need for internal motivation).

If left in a classroom with a generalized curriculum, the gifted child will not progress to realize their full potential. They will feel neglected and understimulated. Gifted children need special programs to flourish and to develop their abilities.

Gifted children who feel supported and understood will have an easier time reaching their full potential. Determining their Learning Style is the first step.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Teenagers and Learning Styles - Who’s the boss?

There is more to learning than school and university:
some things you learn are useful, such as reading and writing
some things you learn are fun, like a sport or a new game
some things you learn can save lives - including your own life.

What skills don’t you have that could potentially save a life?
First aid?
Survival swimming?
Snow rescue basics?
Safe driving?

A research experiment in Toronto aimed at teaching teens about the risks of driving, confirmed that while teenagers learnt well, they also forgot quickly.

I bet the researchers did not use Learning Style Analysis in their experiment, or the teens would have scored much better!

Learning styles will show you how you can master any life skill: be it driving, squash, paintball, bridge, oil painting, speaking Japanese or effective communication.

What life skills or life-saving skills do you want to get this year? Make it easy on yourself with this super-easy 2step process:
Ask yourself: what is my Learning Style?
Find out.

Friday, November 07, 2008

Teenage Learning Styles and Computers

Computers are cool. You probably use one every day to play games, talk to your friends or do homework research.
However, some types or learners benefit from computer learning (also known as online learning or e-learning) more than others.
Check out your Learning Style report. If you have a preference or a strong preference in 4 or more of the below elements of the LSA Pyramid:
· VISUAL (external)
· VISUAL (words)
· TACTILE (touching)
· MOBILITY (stationary)
· SOCIAL GROUPINGS: ALONE
· TIME OF DAY: evening
· KINESTHETIC (internal),
then you learn well using a computer (education games, Internet research, etc.)

Be aware, however, that not all information you find on the Internet may be correct, unless it comes from a trustworthy site (a government website, Wikipedia, etc.)

You may also enjoy socialising on the Internet. Although this point may seem painfully obvious, keep in mind that not everybody in cyberspace is who they say they are, even if you’ve been emailing and chatting for months. Please allow your parents to discuss the topic of Internet safety with you.