Tests, Exams and Learning Styles

Because test conditions are stressful for most children, you as a teacher can remove as much of the stress as possible by letting them learn THEIR WAY, and prepare them for tests in fun and playful ways. Remember,
there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ learning style, just the ‘right’ way for each student (or groups of students).

Some students, usually the holistic ones, will need to know the reason why there have to be tests at all. Tell them tests are important to monitor progress, to show how well the teacher is doing his or her job (an idea which will appeal to them). This should remove some of the stress from the students as well. Although it’s a generalisation, we found that holistic children tend to get more stressed by test conditions than analytic ones. Removing the time factor, and not letting them feel that there is a strict deadline for finishing the test, may make them perform better.

But most importantly: teach according to their preferred learning style, because information stored in your students’ brains ‘their way’ is always much easier accessed under the stressful conditions of a test and the danger of ‘blanking out’ is greatly reduced. 

                

Sochi Winter Olympics and Learning Styles

With the Sochi Winter Olympics firmly on everybody's mind, it's worth remembering that the way we get better at sport depends on our own Working Style.

Some style features to consider are:

·         Motivation

·         Perseverance/Persistence

·         Responsibility

·         Teamwork or training alone

·         Time of day

·         Need for structure

·         Need for routine

·         Sequential or simultaneous learning.

A beautiful example of this is golf as Wayne Thomas, a professional golf coach near Melbourne, Australia, describes it:

“I have always recognised that there is something missing with coaching, despite the excellent results many of my students reported receiving. What concerns me most is a person’s inability to sustain new levels of performance and continually falling back into old patterns. My continued pursuit of knowledge about golf swing, human movement, mental approach to oneself, equipment and communication skills wasn’t providing the key that would open the gate to the amazing potential we all possess.

When I first met Barbara Prashnig and she put forward the notion that HOW people learn is more important than WHAT people learn, it sparked for me a new era in coaching: I immediately began changing my coaching style and the learning environment to match the students’ learning styles. This has led to astonishing improvements and sustained playing ability in my golf students.”

What is your working style? Find out. 

Bullies and Rules

An interesting article appeared in the media recently, about a school that ditched rules and reduced bullying (you can read it here). However, we'd like to encourage you to consider another way of reducing the incidents of violence and intimidations: using Learning Styles.

Many children become rebellious at school because they feel bored, stifled and misunderstood. The solution for their disruptive behaviour lies in satisfying the needs of their unique Learning Style.

Dealing with a bully is no different. You only need to look at their learning style report to see what's behind the fists and the hurtful words.

Learning Style Analysis - it's not only about classroom learning. It's about behaviour, responsibility, perseverance and making friends.

Try it out today.

Many copies, none equal

There are many companies selling or even giving away some version of analysis based on Learning Styles.  Some of them are better than others. None are better than ours, at least in our opinion. Here’s why:

·         In addition to the usual visual-auditory-kinaesthetic analysis, we offer a comprehensive insight into your preferences in terms of working space, time of day, team work, attitude, and many others.

·         Our analysis is based on scientific research and confirmed through many decades of practical applications.

·         Our tool delivers your results in a detailed report with colourful graphs and thorough explanations.

·         The prices of our products are competitive.

We invite you to browse our website, www.clc.co.nz, and discover our Learning Styles for yourselves.

 

Five Things Successful Teachers Do

There are lots of things highly successful teachers do differently from their colleagues. Here are the top five:

1. Successful teachers have fun in the classroom and make learning fun for their students.
2. Successful teachers communicate with parents, students and fellow teachers.
3. Successful teachers expect and encourage their students to succeed.
4. Successful teachers connect with their students and support them emotionally.
5. Successful teachers know the learning styles of their class.

5 things companies do right

Here are the top five things companies can do in order to retain staff and ensure overall quality:

1. Make the employees feel valued and rewarded, both in terms of finances, and public recognition.
2. Provide an opportunity for personal growth and development. Give challenging and stimulating work. Match projects with people's passion.
3. Ensure the employees' buy-in into the company's vision and goals.
4. Have fewer rules and more common sense. When dealing with people, being humane goes a lot further than being a bureaucrat.
5. Respect their employees' Working Style. (Did you know the wrong type of light at the office could make you sick?)

How do you like your coffee?

Did you know? The way you like your coffee could be influenced by your Working Style. Picture this: you are on holiday in a different country. Everything is fabulous, the weather, the sights and the hotel, but there is one snag. The coffee you usually drink, let's say cappuccino, is not available. Do you happily try the local brew, or do you forego the trip to the museum in order to hunt down the exact cup of coffee you'd have at home?

If you have to have your usual coffee, no matter what, then your Working Style is one with a non-preference for variety. You are probably careful about tasting the local cuisine, too, and like your day to have a fixed routine, especially if you are about to embark on a new and mentally challenging task.
What is your Working Style? Find out.